2007 Venezuelan constitutional referendum

none September 2020 Venezuela 2 December 2007 180px Block A articles For 49.35 Against 50.65 Block B articles For 48.99 Against 51.01thumb|300px|President Chávez voting A constitutional referendum was held in Venezuela on 2 December 2007 to amend 69 articles of the 1999 Constitution.https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/world/americas/03venezuela.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=login&pagewanted=print 3 December 2007 Venezuela Hands Narrow Defeat to Chávez Plan Romero, Simon The New York Times 3 December 2007 President Hugo Chávez and supporters claimed the changes were needed to initiate the transformation into a socialist country; opponents claimed the reforms would undermine democracy in the country.Kofman, Jeffrey http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3945080&page=1 ABC Global News Tension, Then Surprise, Chavez Loses Reform Vote 3 December 2007 3 December 2007 The referendum was narrowly defeated, giving Chávez the first and only election loss of his nine-year presidency. University student protests and opposition from former allies helped fuel the defeat, but the referendum results and the 44% abstention rate suggest that support had also waned among Chávez's traditional base of Venezuela's poor.http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1690507,00.html?imw=Y https://web.archive.org/web/20071205170445/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1690507,00.html?imw=Y dead 5 December 2007 Time Jens Erik Gould 3 December 2007 5 December 2007 Why Venezuelans Turned on Chavezhttps://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/world/americas/04venezuela.html Venezuela Vote Sets Roadblocks on Chávez Path The New York Times 4 December 2007 5 December 2007 Romero, Simon Proposal On 15 August 2007 President Hugo Chávez proposed an amendment to 33 articles of Venezuela's 350-article Constitution. A constitutional provision allows the president, the National Assembly of Venezuela or a constituent assembly to ask for changes; reform should be approved by a national referendum.http://www.sandhaanu.net/news/117/ARTICLE/1439/2007-11-18.html Understanding constitutional reform in Venezuela (a background) 18 November 2007 Maldives Independent News Media 4 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071123132319/http://www.sandhaanu.net/news/117/ARTICLE/1439/2007-11-18.html 23 November 2007 deadhttp://www.cne.gov.ve/elecciones/referendo_constitucional2007/documentos/Reforma.pdf Reforma de la constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela National Electoral Council (Venezuela) 4 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080216050740/http://www.cne.gov.ve/elecciones/referendo_constitucional2007/documentos/Reforma.pdf 16 February 2008 es dead The 1999 constitution was promoted by Chávez and adopted by popular referendum. The proposed constitutional reforms were needed, according to Chávez, to complete the transition to a socialist republic and implement his socialist agenda; detractors said he was using the reforms to become a dictator. The proposal was hailed by government supporters as "the start of a new era towards socialism", but Podemos, a pro-government party, expressed disagreement and claimed Chávez was seeking lifelong power. Venezuela's constitutional procedures require three debates before the National Assembly, to reform the constitution. The first debate was successfully held on 21 August 2007 and gave initial approval to the general purpose of the reform.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6958030.stm Venezuela lawmakers back reforms BBC News 22 August 2007 1 December 2007 During the second successful vote on 11 September 2007, the National Assembly added amendments to the original Chávez reform proposal, again angering the Podemos party, which said that the National Assembly had infringed the Constitution."Constitutional Reform Project is approved in its second discussion", Mathaba.net, 12 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007. The third vote on 25 October 2007 approved the proposal, enlarged from 33 articles to 69."Chavez gets constitutional reform backing from Venezuelan Congress" https://web.archive.org/web/20071202120428/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/americas/news/article_1368718.php/Chavez_gets_constitutional_reform_backing_from_Venezuelan_Congress 2 December 2007 , Deutsche Presse-Agentur (monstersandcritics.com), 25 October 2007. Retrieved on 4 December 2007. Final parliamentary approval for the referendum was given on 2 November 2007.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7076076.stm Venezuela assembly passes reforms BBC News 2 November 2007 1 December 2007 The final proposal included 69 constitutional amendments to be voted on in two blocks: 33 that were originally proposed by President Chávez plus another 13 articles introduced by the National Assembly (Proposal A) and 23 more reform articles proposed by the National Assembly (Proposal B).http://www.minci.gob.ve/noticias/1/16436/an_presenta_al.html AN presenta al CNE pregunta para referéndum 2 November 2007 4 December 2007 Gobierno Bolivariano de Venezuela es 19 January 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080119005520/http://www.minci.gob.ve/noticias/1/16436/an_presenta_al.html dead Proposed changes included:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7119371.stm Q&A: Venezuela's referendum BBC News 30 November 2007 4 December 2007http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_7618001 A glance at Venezuela's referendum Associated Press The Mercury News 2 December 2007 4 December 2007 November 2010 H3llBot Also available at CBS Newshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7125689.stm US hails Chavez referendum defeat BBC News 3 December 2007 4 December 2007 abolish presidential term limits, allowing for indefinite re-election of the president (not allowed for any other political post), expand social security benefits to workers in the informal economy, end the autonomy of the central bank, giving control to the president, and place the president in charge of administering the country's international reserves, prohibit large land estates, while "allowing the state to provisionally occupy property slated for expropriation before a court has ruled", reorganize the country's administrative districts and allow the president to control elected state governors and mayors by an unelected "popular power" dependent on the presidency,http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10251226 Defeat for Hugo Chávez: The wind goes out of the revolution The Economist 6 December 2007 6 December 2007 reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 36 hours and reduce the workday from eight to six hours, lower the voting age from 18 to 16, increase the presidential term from six to seven years, allow the president to declare an unlimited state of emergency, prohibit foreign funding for political associations. allow public funding for political associations. ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6236.html Gay rights were part of rejected Venezuelan referendum 6 December 2007 13 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071213175906/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6236.html dead PinkNews Campaign thumb|Chávez supporters hang a pro reform poster In November 2007, demonstrations arose in Caracas, Venezuela and six other cities over the proposed constitutional changes. "Tens of thousands" of "Yes" voters marched in Caracas after the referendum had finally been approved on 2 November.http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hAyrGfE-ZWy2y7T2UdYkNsnzF65gD8T2DTP80 Thousands Rally for Chavez's Proposal James Ian Associated Press 21 November 2007 4 December 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071124112753/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hAyrGfE-ZWy2y7T2UdYkNsnzF65gD8T2DTP80 24 November 2007 A 7 November riot at the Central University of Venezuela resulted in gunfire and several injuries;Sierra, Sandra https://www.theguardian.com/worldlatest/story/0,,-7060225,00.html Gunfire erupts at Venezuela university Associated Press The Guardian 8 November 2007 3 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071110170707/http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7060225,00.html 10 November 2007 dead footage was caught on tape. In late November 2007, just days before the referendum, tens of thousands marched in Caracas for both the "Yes" and "No" votes.Hannah Strange 100,000 march against Hugo Chavez reforms http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2976631.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20080706165434/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2976631.ece dead 6 July 2008 Times Online 30 November 2007 1 December 2007 An opposition politician estimated the crowd marching for the "No" vote at 160,000.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7120133.stm Students stage anti-Chavez rally BBC News 30 November 2007 3 December 2007 Protests were largely peaceful, and only one death has been reported.http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/11/26/en_refco_art_one-person-killed-in_26A1221039.shtml One person killed in demonstration in Venezuela 6 December 2007 El Universal 26 November 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221182904/http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/11/26/en_refco_art_one-person-killed-in_26A1221039.shtml 21 December 2007http://economia.eluniversal.com/2007/11/27/pol_art_un-muerto-y-6-herido_614711.shtml Un muerto y 6 heridos durante protestas 6 December 2007 El Universal 27 November 2007 es dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071130042633/http://economia.eluniversal.com/2007/11/27/pol_art_un-muerto-y-6-herido_614711.shtml 30 November 2007 Some of Chávez's supporters expressed concerns and disagreement with his proposals to change the constitution. Many voters abstained in the vote, rather than cast a "No" vote against Chávez. The student movement played a crucial role in consolidating this positionhttps://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-chavez4dec04,1,3761151.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage Chavez revolution takes hit in election Los Angeles Times Kraul, Chris 4 December 2007 5 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071213053210/http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-chavez4dec04,1,3761151.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage 13 December 2007 dead and in organizing numerous rallies.http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/10/23/en_pol_art_students-want-refere_23A1145717.shtml Students want referendum to be hold (sic) on 3 February 2008 El Universal 23 October 2007 5 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110518133535/http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/10/23/en_pol_art_students-want-refere_23A1145717.shtml 18 May 2011 dead The Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies (CANVAS), created by former members of Otpor, contributed to the movement and provided training for students in Belgrade.5 October 2007 Venezuela: The Marigold Revolution? https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/venezuela-marigold-revolution 2024-03-03 Stratfor3 December 2007 Venezuela: A New Player in the Mix https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/venezuela-new-player-mix 2024-03-03 Stratfor CANVAS, originally known in Serbia as Otpor (loosely translated as "Resistance"), excels at bridging the gaps between disparate factions, mobilizing popular support, coordinating protest actions and hitting authoritarian governments where it most hurts. It shines at carrying out the sort of activities at which the Venezuelan opposition fails miserably, and it has now contributed to Chavez's first real defeat. The student movement has played a large role in the Venezuelan political process, having gained a prominent position during the RCTV broadcast license expiration protests.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/04/AR2007060400216.html The Associated Press The Washington Post Venezuela Students Spur Protest Movement Nunez Elizabeth 4 June 2007 8 December 2007 Although the student movement is not limited to the opposition,http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/11/21/en_pol_art_bolivarian-students_21A1209801.shtml Bolivarian students are marching to Chávez's government headquarters El Universal 21 November 2007 8 December 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110525130938/http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/11/21/en_pol_art_bolivarian-students_21A1209801.shtml 25 May 2011 it has been the opposition students that have gained the largest support, in part because they are not officially affiliated with any political cadres. Raúl Baduel, former Minister of Defense and one of the four founding members of Chávez's Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200, expressed his concern by describing the reform as "nothing less than an attempt to establish a socialist state in Venezuela ... [which] is contrary to the beliefs of Simón Bolívar and it is also contrary to human nature and the Christian view of society, because it grants the state absolute control over the people it governs".https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/opinion/01baduel.html?n=Top/Opinion/Editorials%20and%20Op-Ed/Op-Ed/Contributors Why I Parted Ways With Chávez Raúl Baduel The New York Times 1 December 2007 3 December 2007 Other leaders and former Chávez supporters who distanced themselves from the proposal were Ismael García, a deputy in the National Assembly, and Ramón Martínez, governor of Sucre State. Marisabel Rodríguez, Chávez's ex-wife, called the proposed changes an attempt to achieve "an absolute concentration of power".http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2983752.ece The Sunday Times 2 December 2007 Ex-wife damns Hugo Chavez 'coup' Orozco, Jose 3 December 2007September 2024 medicmedic Venezuela's state television network broadcast coverage prior to the referendum of a memo written in Spanish, claiming it evidenced a plan by the CIA to destabilize Chávez —an allegation referred to as Operation Pliers.https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/05/world/americas/05venezuela.html In Venezuela, an American Has the President's Ear The New York Times 4 February 2011 Chávez threatened to cut off oil exports to the United States if violence resulted from the referendum and declared at his campaign's closing that "whoever voted 'Yes' was voting for Hugo Chávez, but whoever voted 'No' was voting for George W. Bush". The U.S. has responded by calling the allegations "ridiculous"Chavez urges reform for Venezuela. BBC News, 1 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007 and "a fake". Independent analysts doubt the authenticity of the document, noting both the lack of an original document in English and that "the timing of its release is strange."Simon Romero In Chávez Territory, Signs of Dissent https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/world/americas/30venez.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin The New York Times 30 November 2007 1 December 2007 Opinion polls thumb|29 November rally by the supporters of the "No" vote Polls from November saw very close results. In mid-November, a Hinterlaces poll found that 51% of decided voters supported the change, while Mecanálisis said 64% of decided voters would vote against reform.http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29064/outcome_of_venezuelas_referendum_uncertain Angus Reid Global Monitor Outcome of Venezuela's Referendum Uncertain 19 November 2007 1 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071215075350/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29064/outcome_of_venezuelas_referendum_uncertain 15 December 2007 usurped A poll by Keller & Asociados concluded defeat for the proposal with 45% "No" to 31% "Yes" votes; about 65% of eligible people planned to vote.http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=71725&clave=a%3A1%3A%7Bi%3A0%3Bs%3A8%3A%22encuesta%22%3B%7D Última encuesta de Keller & Asociados da ganadora opción del NO Globovision 23 November 2007 1 December 2007 es https://web.archive.org/web/20071202092510/http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=71725&clave=a%3A1%3A%7Bi%3A0%3Bs%3A8%3A%22encuesta%22%3B%7D 2 December 2007 dead A late-November poll by Datanalisis of 1,854 likely voters indicated 49% were opposed, with 39% in favor. Reportedly, some moderate Chávez backers were likely to vote "No"; it was the first Datanalisis survey to project a loss, contrasted with earlier surveys that showed a win for Chávez "amid low turnout and despite widespread skepticism of his proposal".http://www.b92.net/eng/news/world-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=11&dd=24&nav_id=45681 Poll says Chavez loses Venezuela referendum lead 24 November 2007 B92.net 3 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071125100953/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/world-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=11&dd=24&nav_id=45681 25 November 2007 deadhttp://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29179/half_in_venezuela_reject_new_constitution Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research Half in Venezuela Reject New Constitution 29 November 2007 3 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071202092641/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29179/half_in_venezuela_reject_new_constitution 2 December 2007 usurped Results The proposal was narrowly defeated, 51 to 49 percent, in the first major electoral defeat for Chávez in the nine years of his presidency. Chávez conceded defeat, saying, "I congratulate my adversaries for this victory", and "for now, we could not do it." thumb|Preparations for the referendum thumb|People wait in line to vote in Caracas OptionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalRegisteredvotersTurnoutOutcomeVotes%Votes%Option A4,404,62649.354,521,49450.65119,1559,045,27516,109,66456.05RejectedOption B4,360,01448.994,539,70751.01145,2399,044,96056.15RejectedSource: El Universal Results by state thumb|right|Results by state + Results by state State Proposal A Proposal B Option Votes % Option Votes % Amazonas Yes 21,076 65.76 Yes 17,222 57.94 No 10,971 34.23 No 12,501 42.05 Anzoátegui Yes 206,826 45.60 Yes 205,048 45.34 No 246,657 54.39 No 247,124 54.65 Apure Yes 70,761 61.16 Yes 70,392 60.99 No 44,936 38.83 No 45,022 39.00 Aragua Yes 324,745 52.92 Yes 321,586 52.57 No 288,897 47.07 No 290,095 47.42 Barinas Yes 118,198 55.92 Yes 117,440 55.68 No 93,166 44.07 No 93,468 44.31 Bolívar Yes 202,767 52.70 Yes 200,843 52.40 No 181,929 47.29 No 182,414 47.59 Carabobo Yes 367,532 47.17 Yes 363,825 46.87 No 411,622 52.82 No 412,337 53.12 Cojedes Yes 65,210 60.87 Yes 64,736 60.64 No 41,914 39.12 No 42,012 39.35 Delta Amacuro Yes 28,505 60.96 Yes 28,299 60.71 No 18,251 39.03 No 18,308 39.28 Distrito Capital Yes 392,489 47.58 Yes 388,757 47.15 No 432,251 52.41 No 435,627 52.84 Falcón Yes 136,038 50.12 Yes 134,710 49.76 No 135,337 49.87 No 135,983 50.23 Guárico Yes 132,490 58.35 Yes 131,586 58.12 No 94,539 41.64 No 94,796 41.87 Lara Yes 284,726 48.97 Yes 281,262 48.50 No 296,603 51.02 No 298,658 51.50 Mérida Yes 132,979 45.28 Yes 132,355 45.16 No 160,657 54.71 No 160,681 54.83 Miranda Yes 422,811 43.78 Yes 416,797 43.30 No 542,799 56.21 No 544,717 56.65 Monagas Yes 160,096 57.87 Yes 159,079 57.64 No 116,532 42.12 No 116,894 42.35 Nueva Esparta Yes 69,495 43.90 Yes 69,106 43.74 No 88,799 56.09 No 88,862 56.25 Portuguesa Yes 169,499 63.08 Yes 168,025 62.68 No 99,207 36.92 No 100,013 37.31 Sucre Yes 125,494 51.07 Yes 124,818 50.88 No 120,214 48.92 No 120,472 49.11 Táchira Yes 169,171 42.68 Yes 168,024 42.49 No 227,156 57.31 No 227,379 57.50 Trujillo Yes 139,657 62.16 Yes 138,935 61.98 No 85,011 37.83 No 85,215 38.01 Vargas Yes 68,629 56.21 Yes 67,555 55.65 No 53,465 43.79 No 53,830 44.34 Yaracuy Yes 97,736 52.43 Yes 96,778 52.07 No 88,647 47.56 No 89,074 47.92 Zulia Yes 472,462 43.05 Yes 467,958 42.74 No 624,790 56.94 No 626,850 57.25 Source: National Electoral Council (CNE)es Poder electoral ofreció primer boletin oficial. https://web.archive.org/web/20090219153201/http://cne.gov.ve/noticiaDetallada.php?id=4348 19 February 2009 National Electoral Council, 3 December 2007. Accessed on 3 December 2007 Reactions thumb|270px|El Nacional headline: "Venezuela said no". In conceding defeat, Chávez insisted that he would "continue in the battle to build socialism". Although two days later Chavez called "victoria de mierda" (shitty victory) to the results, further saying that "but already you are covering it (the victory) in shit".http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/12/06/internacional/1196897757.html García James L. Caracas Chávez califica de 'victoria de mierda' el triunfo de la oposición Foreign media on the referendum El Mundo 2007-12-06 es 2008-05-21 Chávez conceded defeat by saying "for now, we couldn't" ("por ahora no pudimos"),Matthew Walter and Helen Murphy. Venezuelans Reject Chavez's Plans for Constitution (Update1). Bloomberg, 3 December 2007. Accessed on 3 December 2007http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Venezuela/dice/Constitucion/Chavez/elpepuint/20071203elpepuint_1/Tes Venezuela dice 'no' a la Constitución de Chávez Peregil, F 3 December 2007 El País 7 December 2007 Caracas es Venezuela Says 'No' to Chavez's Constitution echoing the phrase he used after the failure of the February 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt.http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/388018.html Bush administration hails Chavez defeat Bachelet, Pablo The Kansas City Star 3 December 2007 4 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071206110705/http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/388018.html 6 December 2007 dead Manuel Rosales, a 2006 Venezuelan presidential candidate, said, "Tonight, Venezuela has won". Leopoldo López, a popular opposition mayor, said "Venezuela won today, democracy won today". Latin American media responses included special reports that highlighted Chávez's first electoral setback in nine years and his ethical acceptance of defeat.http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/12/03/en_refco_art_foreign-media-on-the_03A1242319.shtml Foreign media on the referendum El Universal 3 December 2007 4 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071217050653/http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/12/03/en_refco_art_foreign-media-on-the_03A1242319.shtml 17 December 2007 dead According to a Mercosur press release, the general Latin American response was praise for the "democratic maturity" evidenced by the Venezuelan people. Brazil's Foreign Affairs Minister, Celso Amorin, said "The president accepted the result in a very calm and elegant manner." President Felipe Calderón of Mexico said Chávez had shown " ... enormous valor to admit such results". Spain's Foreign Affairs minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, said that "free expression of people's sovereignty has been accepted by all sides including those who had promoted the referendum". Néstor Kirchner, Argentine President described Chávez as a "great democrat". A response characterized by Mercosur as "blunt" came from Cuban Foreign Affairs minister Felipe Perez Roque: "those who have organized plots to destabilize Venezuela, to abolish its democratically elected government and even attempt a coup against President Chávez are active and we hope that they quit and let the Venezuelan people build their future in peace".http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12055&formato=HTML 4 December 2007 Praise for Venezuela but Chavez promises 'we will prevail' MercoPress 5 December 2007 6 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071206093653/http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12055&formato=html dead The U.S. administration of President George W. Bush hailed the defeat as a victory for democracy. Bush said, "The Venezuelan people rejected one-man rule. They voted for democracy." A National Security Council spokesman said, "We congratulate the people of Venezuela on their vote and their continued desire to live in freedom and democracy". A State Department Undersecretary said, "We felt that this referendum would make Chávez president for life, and that’s not ever a welcome development. In a country that wants to be a democracy, the people spoke, and the people spoke for democracy and against unlimited power." A leader of the student movement, Yon Goicoechea, was awarded the Cato Institute's $500,000 Milton Friedman Liberty Prize in 2008 for his "pivotal role in organizing and voicing opposition to the erosion of human and civil rights" in Venezuela.Venezuelan Student Movement Leader Awarded $500,000 Milton Friedman Liberty Prize http://www.cato.org/special/friedman/goicoechea/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081104074221/http://www.cato.org/special/friedman/goicoechea/ 4 November 2008 1 November 2008 Cato Institute The Organization of American States Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza called the results of the referendum an "exemplary development" on the part of the Venezuelan government and people, saying that democracy in the Americas "passed a difficult test and emerged stronger, showing clearly its consolidation."http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/12/03/en_refco_art_insulza-congratulate_03A1242563.shtml Insulza congratulates Venezuelan government and people El Universal 3 December 2007 5 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110525130817/http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/12/03/en_refco_art_insulza-congratulate_03A1242563.shtml 25 May 2011 dead Reporters without Borders expressed hope that the result of the vote would end the "media war" in Venezuela.http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/12/03/en_refco_art_rsf-hopes-referendum_03A1241999.shtml RSF hopes referendum to stop "media war" in Venezuela El Universal 3 December 2007 4 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071222203334/http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/12/03/en_refco_art_rsf-hopes-referendum_03A1241999.shtml 22 December 2007 dead The day after the referendum, financial markets were buoyed by Chávez's defeat; Venezuelan bonds rose and the stock index in Caracas surged 4% following a year-to-date 24% decline.http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/venezuelan-bonds-rally-after-chavez/story.aspx?guid=%7BD1EA2669-EA24-4725-9371-091CF53EA580%7D Emerging Markets Report: Venezuelan bonds rally after Chavez referendum loss Lesova, Polya Lesova MarketWatch 3 December 2007 5 December 2007 Aftermath Chávez said on 5 December that he intended to launch a second attempt to change the Constitution. According to El Universal newspaper, he said:http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/12/05/en_refco_art_chavez-announces-sec_05A1247117.shtml Chávez announces second offensive to reform the Constitution El Universal 5 December 2007 5 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110525130923/http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/12/05/en_refco_art_chavez-announces-sec_05A1247117.shtml 25 May 2011 deadWatch out, US lovers, celebrate. You have no dignity anyhow. Where could you have it? I recommend you to administer your victory wisely, because we will launch a renewed offensive for the great constitutional reform. ... You have a second offensive left for the constitutional reform. I cannot say that we did not make it." Responding to George W. Bush's remarks, he said:They say Chávez was blown away. Yes, but I moved not even a millimeter. Yes, I was blown away, but I am weaker not even a millimeter. Be worried, empire; be worried, unpatriotic oligarchy. Strike as many times as you want. But, beware! Do not provoke! During a press conference with the military high command, he expressed on Venezolana de Televisión the possibility of bringing the proposal back in "the same form, transformed or simplified" in a future referendum and the creation of the Bolivarian militias by modifying the laws regarding the armed forces. He also described the opposition's victory as "full of shit" and his defeat as "full of courage, valor and dignity".http://550.dreamhosters.com/yvke/noticia.php?1632 Presidente Chávez: "Vendrá una nueva ofensiva" para reformar la Carta Magna YVKE Caracas 5 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071213011118/http://550.dreamhosters.com/yvke/noticia.php?1632 13 December 2007 deadhttp://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=72946 Presidente Chavez desmiente haber sido presionado por alto mando militar y reitera que insistirá en su proyecto Globovisión 5 December 2007 5 December 2007 es https://web.archive.org/web/20071207064614/http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=72946 7 December 2007 dead A month after the referendum was defeated, Chávez named Ramón Carrizales to replace vice-president Jorge Rodríguez, who had been blamed by many Chávez supporters for the failed referendum.Jack Daniel Frank Venezuela's Chavez reshuffles cabinet after defeat 3 January 2008 22 January 2008 https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN0359066620080104?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 Reuters References External links Juan Forero Chavez Opposition Swells Ahead of Referendum https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16783086 NPR 30 November 2007 1 December 2007 Jens Erik Gould Venezuela's Fateful Choice https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/business/worldbusiness/30chavez.html?em&ex=1196571600&en=d421aee74175c7e7&ei=5087%0A The New York Times 29 November 2007 1 December 2007 Jens Erik Gould Venezuelan President's Power Extends to His Family https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16727303 NPR 29 November 2007 1 December 2007 Constitutional referendum Venezuela Category:Referendums in Venezuela Category:Constitutions of Venezuela Category:Reform in Venezuela Category:Constitutional referendums Category:Bolivarian Revolution Category:Term limit abolition referendums Category:December 2007 elections