Politics
February 9

Chávez urges opposition to acknowledge results of referendum
President Hugo Chávez said the he would immediately recognize an eventual defeat in next February 15 referendum on his proposal to establish endless reelection of all elected offices, and he asked opposition leaders to act the same way. "I would like to hear the same statement from opposition leaders," Chávez said.

"We believe in people's will," the Venezuelan ruler stressed. "We must recognize the results and keep on marching."

In the same vein, Chávez also called dissenters to recognize him as the President of Venezuela. In his view, this would a significant step forward towards better understanding.  "There are some sectors, however, that do not recognize me, that hate me and want to chop me," Chávez said.

Opposition: Chávez's statements are an electoral strategy
More than one million people attended last February 7 a march the opposition staged against a proposed constitutional amendment to allow indefinite reelection of elected officials. 

This was the figure mentioned by opposition leader Juan Carlos Caldera (Primero Justicia), who said that the estimation was made based on the data provided by staff at several checkpoints along the 10-mile route.

In a meeting with the press, the leaders of the opposition parties also responded to the statements of President Hugo Chávez in which he rejected the violent actions of La Piedrita, a pro-government group, and of the groups headed by pro-government leader Lina Ron.

Omar Barboza, president of opposition party Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT), said that although he welcomes the statements of the Venezuelan ruler he does not trust him since they came just before the referendum on the amendment to the Constitution, and they seem to be part of an electoral strategy.

Pro-Chávez legislator: If the opposition takes power, they will finish up the revolution
Ángel Rodríguez, chair of the Committee on Energy and Mines, National Assembly, said that the victory of the "Yes" choice in an upcoming referendum to establish endless reelection of all elected offices will secure the continuity of the people's power in Venezuela. He added that the amendment to the Constitution will strengthen the construction of an all-inclusive, participatory, and leading democracy, which has been the main goal of the Bolivarian Revolution.

"If the opposition gets the Presidency of the Republic, they will terminate community councils, for the opponents of President Hugo Chávez have taken a public stance against this type of people's association as well as the people's participation in national decisions. Even when the National Assembly passed the laws that gave them a legal status, the opposition warned that these forms of association were an imitation of the Cuban socialist regime."

Fifteen injured students, two detained at Barinas University
A total of 15 students were shot on Monday, February 9 at Santa María University, western Barinas state, while demonstrating in favor of the No vote for the amendment to the Constitution.

Eixora Serano, Vice-President of the Student Council, Faculty of Law, reported that on Monday morning, they found the walls of the university painted with slogans against students and in favor of the Yes vote.

Students went out the university to distribute pamphlets for the No vote and paint slogans on car windows but security agents dispersed them with tear gas and plastic bullets.

Two students were detained. "So far, we do not know their whereabouts," said Serrano.

CNE provides assurances for 15F voting
Tibisay Lucena, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), together with the high military command led by Minister of Defense Gustavo Rangel Briceño, said that the referendum to be held on February 15th is shielded.

"The electoral process is totally secured. By Sunday, February 15th, we will have everything done in legal, administrative, operational, technical and logistical terms. In this way, voting centers will open very early in the morning."

She noted that by Friday, February 13th, 98 percent of the machines in polling stations must be installed; next day, on Saturday, machines should be checked.

February 11

Students march to defend secrecy of vote
In several Venezuelan cities, university students are devoting their efforts to encourage turnout in February 15 referendum on a proposal to lift term limits for all elected officials.

Given the rumors, typical of pre-election days, according to which the secrecy of the vote could be violated in the referendum, a group of students took the streets on Tuesday, February 10 to deny the rumor and staged a march in Caracas. They wrote the slogan: "Only you can know your vote!" on mirrors and glasses.

Ministry of the Interior denies permit for a march of dissenting students
Ricardo Sánchez, the president of the Student Council (FCU), Central University of Venezuela (UCV), regretted on Wednesday, February 11 the government decision to deny clearance for a march scheduled for next Friday at the end of the campaign against the amendment to the Constitution for endless reelection of elected public office.

"The Ministry of the Interior denied the permit" to the march called by the opposition student movement between low-income neighborhoods of Catia and Petare, from western through eastern Caracas, Sánchez told the local media, Efe reported.

Sánchez added that despite the government denial, students will keep their schedule of events. "We, Venezuelans, continue deployed in every last nook and cranny in Venezuela, because this student movement will not surrender; we will keep on fighting."

President Hugo Chávez vows to observe referendum results
President Hugo Chávez promised on Wednesday to abide by "whatever" the results of a referendum next Sunday on an amendment to the Constitution to allow for his unlimited reelection.

At the same time, he urged the opposition to respect the people's will and avoid "failure to acknowledge."

"I say it again in the name of millions. When I speak at this time, I am speaking on behalf of million Venezuelans. We are saying we will abide by whatever results; we will acknowledge and do acknowledge the authority of institutions, the National Electoral Council (CNE), because we trust in our electoral system, which is one of the best in the world," he said in an address to the nation aired in an obligatory simultaneous broadcast.

February 12

Dissenters accredit electoral witnesses in 13 states
Thousands of witnesses for opposition parties are to watch over 34,322 polling stations in February 15th referendum on a constitutional amendment proposed by President Hugo Chávez to establish endless reelection of all elected offices.

Spokespersons for NGO Red de Testigos (Network of Witnesses) announced that all of the volunteers assigned to monitor polling stations in 13 states throughout Venezuela have been provided with the credentials necessary both to attest to the establishment of polling stations and to have access to the copies of the vote count tally sheets.

Jacqueline Mosquera, a spokeswoman for Network of Witnesses and member of NGO Hagamos Democracia (Let's Make Democracy), said that there are 103,623 volunteers across the country "who are appointed by the political parties to defend the vote in the referendum on the unlimited reelection of elected officials."  

Government followers rally in the home stretch
Followers of President Hugo Chávez and lobbyists for the Yes vote marched on Thursday, February 12 in Caracas downtown to rally in Bolívar Avenue, as part of an event viewed as one of the last measurements of strength, three days ahead of a referendum intended to amend the Constitution and establish unlimited reelection of all elected officials.

In Bolívar Avenue, downtown Caracas, a number of pro-government demonstrators in red were visible. The government set some platforms and posted placards on the Yes vote throughout the area.

The Venezuelan ruler is expected to deliver a speech in the afternoon and renew his call to put up a fight in the voting next February 15th aimed at the amendment to the Constitution and thereby, endless reelection.

Students to do "the great occupation of Caracas"
The dissenting student movement is scheduled to carry out on Friday 13 the "great occupation of Caracas," reported Ricardo Sánchez, president of the Student Council (FCU), Central University of Venezuela (UCV).

This activity, set to replace a march from western to eastern Caracas that was not permitted by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice, means that groups of students will deploy in several sites throughout the capital city, including streets, squares, avenues and traffic lights.

"With much happiness we will take the streets tomorrow (Friday) to distribute flyers; to inform and explain why we are against the amendment" (to the Constitution).

February 13

34,541 polling stations will be established nationwide
Less than three months after the regional elections held last November 23rd, the equipment of the National Electoral Council (CNE) will be deployed again.

The establishment of 34,541 polling stations started on Friday. These balloting stations will be distributed among 11,422 polling centers, with 209 established abroad.

Unlike November 27 local elections, 439 polling stations will not be operational during February 15 referendum on President Hugo Chávez's proposal to establish endless reelection for all elected officials.  

Caracas Metropolitan Mayor: "Let us say No to violence"
Based on the support of more than 700,000 voters that elected him as Metropolitan Mayor three months ago, opposition leader Antonio Ledezma (Alianza al Bravo Pueblo party), made an emotional and powerful appeal on Thursday, February 12 to voters, particularly the voters of the metropolitan area of Caracas.

Ledezma asked them to reject on February 15 the constitutional amendment allowing for indefinite reelection of the president and elected officials, describing it as "an unacceptable and anti-democratic outrage."

Chávez asks his followers not to let him down in referendum
"You, Venezuelan men and women, know that I, Hugo Chávez, am a humble soldier. I will not let you down. Do not let me down next Sunday. Let us all vote for the Yes option," stated President Hugo Chávez before his supporters, who gathered Thursday in the Bolívar Avenue, downtown Caracas.

The commemorated the national Youth Day as part of the closing rallies of the electoral campaign ahead of a referendum to implement endless reelection of elected officials.

"You are not going to let me down on February 15," insisted the President, who said he was positive that they "will accomplish a great and historic victory." He also told his followers that triumphalism can be misleading, urging them to "make their best in the hours left" ahead of the vote to gain an overwhelming victory by knockout."

CNE reports that 50 percent of polling stations have been established
Tibisay Lucena, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), reported that all the electoral material and logistics for February 15 referendum are ready for use. She said that "about 50 percent of the polling stations have been established." 

"We expect to meet 100 percent of the goal at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and be fully prepared for the opening of polling stations on Sunday," she added.

Lucena stressed that the CNE has made "all the logistical, operational and organizational arrangements to carry out an electoral process not only of high quality but transparent and reliable."