Venezuela's Chavez and Supporters Celebrate Failure of Opposition’s Petiti

[Say_What]

Actual results won't be known until January.

<clips>
Caracas, Dec 2 (Venezuelanalysis.com)The fourth day of the opposition’s petition drive to call for a recall referendum against President Chavez ended today amidst celebrations and an odd media silence.

While opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup suggested that the opposition had collected four million signatures, another opposition leader, Enrique Mendoza urged the supporters of the opposition to go onto the streets and to celebrate their success. His call, however, was largely ignored.

Chavez supporters, on the other hand, such as Infrastructure Minister Diodado Cabello, said that the opposition had collected no more than two million signatures, which would mean that the opposition’s campaign failed, since at least 2.4 million signatures are necessary to convoke a recall referendum. Leaders of Chavez’ party, the MVR, called for people to gather in front of the presidential palace. That evening a large enthusiastic crowd of thousands of Chavistas gathered to celebrate what they considered to be their victory over the opposition. (For a comparison of the opposition and Chavista celebrations, see: http://www.aporrea.org/audio/1103/011203.rm)

Media Silence

While Venezuela’s state television channel broadcast almost continuous coverage of the day’s pronouncements, the private mass media devoted their coverage to regular entertainment programming.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1121



Even in El Paraiso, a middle-class sector of Caracas whose population is believed to be mostly opposed to President Chavez, few people came out to sign. Photo taken on Sunday Nov 30, at noon.
Photo: Ignacio Labrador

[RandomKoolzip]

1. Whew-hoo!

What is it with the CIA and South America? Why can't they just leave them alone?

As a side note, I knew the Gray Davis recall strategy would catch on; the whole recall process as it is not used is a subversion of real democracy, as it is a concept fostered and finaced by right-wing politicians and corporate backers, NOT a mandate from the people.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. Obviously a rhetorical question, but I'll play along...

Yummy, tasty oil

[Say_What]

9. Recall NOT a US idea. --Article 72 of the Venezuelan Constitution

Where do people get the idea that a referendum was a US idea??? The idea was NOT invented with Schwartzenegger or the Repukes.

The Venezuelan *opposition* are exercising their consitutional rights, just as the Chavistas did the week prior.

<clips>

Article 72 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela states:

All popularly-elected officials and magistrates terms of office are subject to revocation. During the midway point of the term for which the functionary was elected, a number no less than twenty per cent of the registered voters can solicit the convocation of a referendum to revoke his/her mandate.

When a number equal or greater than the number of registered voters that elected the functionary have voted in favor of the revocation, and always assuring that a number equal to or greater than twenty-five percent of registered voters voted in the referendum, the functionary’s mandate will be considered revoked and the process will begin to fulfill the position immediately according to and conforming with all available means in this Constitution and in the Laws.

The revocation of a functionary will be conducted in accordance with established laws.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1010

[David__77]

11. But, most of the opposition are also fascist anti-constitutionalists.

I think it's important to note that the bulk of the "opposition" also applauded when the oligarchy carried out a fascist military coup and installed their man Pedro Carmona as dictator. That casts doubt on thier commitment to the Bolivarian constitution and the Bolivarian republic. It's legitimate to focus close scrutiny on these anti-democratic forces and act appropriately.

[Say_What]

12. True. But the recall idea did NOT come from California

that's all I was saying. I'm more than well aware of the makeup of the US-supported opposition and their dictator for day Carmona.

[el_gato]

2. woohoo!

so few elites, so many poor

the venenzuela corporate media is probably holding a michael jackson marathon this week

[Minstrel Boy]

3. lol @ "Michael Jackson marathon"

Quién es Kobe?

[Minstrel Boy]

4. hmm... what about this from Voice of America?

Venezuela Opposition Claims Enough Signatures to Recall Chavez

VOA News
02 Dec 2003

Venezuela's political opposition says it has collected enough signatures to demand a recall of populist president Hugo Chavez.
Hundreds of Venezuelans rallied late Monday near the capital, Caracas, to celebrate what they called a massive turnout for its four-day petition drive. Chavez opponents shot fireworks into the sky and waved blue, yellow and red Venezuelan flags.

Hundreds of the president's supporters held a rival rally in front of the presidential palace.

An opposition newspaper, El Nuevo Pais, said the opposition had collected by Sunday more than the 2.5 million signatures it needed for a referendum.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=947FF176-F39C-41FD-82128CC9AD5AF757

[BJ]

6. German Journal was the only TeeVee news carrying this story.

At least while I was watching TeeVee last night. Don't suppose since the petition didn't turn out the way Dubya and the Texas Oil-boys wanted it the word went down to the "Librule" media to ignore it?

[Judi Lynn]

7. The fact that the corporate media didn't have anything to say

should be indicative they recongnized there weren't enough anti-Chavistas to pull it off:

In the past, when important political events occurred in Venezuela, the oppositional private television channels would pre-empt their normal programming even for minor announcements. This time, the private television channels practically did not broadcast live footage, political analysis or commentaries of the day’s events.

[nickgutierrez]

8. This makes two attempts

on Chaves' presidency now. I predict assassination will be the next step.

[BJ]

10. Shades of Salvador Allende.