Resultados Referendum (1)

Chavez wins close Venezuela vote, say ministers

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appeared headed for victory on Sunday in a referendum on allowing the leftist to rule for as long as he keeps winning elections, three government ministers said, citing early data.

Exit polls and early counts by party members showed the anti-U.S. leader won by at least six percentage points in a vote where turnout was low, said the three ministers, who asked not to be named.

Vice President Jorge Rodriguez told reporters the vote was "close", and opposition politicians questioned the government's poll numbers.

"They are trying to create rumors to present themselves as winners, as victors," Andres Velasquez, an opposition leader said. "We want to deny it categorically, emphatically."

If approved, the referendum vote on a raft of reforms would allow Chavez -- in office since 1999 -- to run for reelection indefinitely, control foreign currency reserves, appoint loyalists over regional elected officials and censor the media if he declares an emergency.

Chavez has said he wants to rule for life and turn the major oil exporter into a socialist state.

The opposition did not release its own polling data except for an exit poll in Caracas, where they have beaten Chavez in the past. The president is more popular away from main cities.

"It's very close, very close," said Julio Borges, the leader of a main opposition party Justice First.

Most pre-vote opinion surveys predicted a tight vote on the package of constitutional changes that the opposition and even some former longtime allies say is authoritarian.

Pollsters had said a low turnout would favor Chavez, who activated a state-backed get-out-the-vote campaign against an underfunded, fragmented opposition.

The left-wing leader, a fierce critic of the United States and close ally of communist Cuba, has never lost a national vote and had predicted he would win by at least 10 points on Sunday.

Reuters

Vicepresidente de Venezuela: resultado de referendo "está reñido"

CARACAS (AFP) - El resultado del referendo sobre una reforma constitucional en Venezuela "está reñido", dijo este domingo el vicepresidente Jorge Rodríguez, quien llamó a la población a esperar el resultado oficial.

"Debo decir que el proceso está reñido; nosotros responsablemente decimos que en efecto está reñido", dijo en conferencia de prensa Rodríguez, que preside el comando de campaña por el Sí al referendo por una constitución socialista, que otorgaría nuevos poderes al presidente Hugo Chávez.

"Este es un momento para que los dirigentes estemos a la altura de nuestro pueblo", añadió.

"Reconoceremos el resultado sin chistar, acataremos la decisión del árbitro y exhortamos a la otra parte a que haga lo mismo", señaló el vicepresidente.

"Queremos decirle a la población que como auténticos demócratas que somos exhortamos y recordamos que debe esperarse el boletín emanado del Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)" con los resultados oficiales, agregó Rodríguez.

Por su lado, el dirigente del partido opositor Primero Justicia (centro-derecha), Julio Borges, afirmó que "la foto es muy cerrada".

"Quiero decirle al gobierno que se calme, que esperemos el resultado del CNE", añadió Borges.

"Están haciendo visitas a los medios con unas posiciones que están tratando de forzar un resultado", dijo Borges.

El dirigente opositor advirtió a los rectores del Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE) que "estamos absolutamente alerta. Los distintos partidos políticos de manera independiente, tenemos nuestras propias cifras", puntualizó.

AFP