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Hugo Chavez Re-elected, “Down with imperialism.”
by Portland IMC
Tuesday December 05, 2006 at 01:08 PM
At 10 pm last night the CNE, the National Electoral Council, stated its first report of the presidential elections showing Hugo Chavez winning by a larger margin than ever before. With 78.31% of the votes counted the presidential incumbent Hugo Chávez obtained 5,936,141 votes, (61,35%), and Manuel Rosales 3,715,292 (38,39%).
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/12/350259.shtml
Contrary to predictions, Venezuela´s Presidential elections proceeded with only a few minor hitches. The morning started early, around 3am, to the blaring of La Diana, a Chavista mobilization song, and repetitive explosive fireworks. The citizens began lining up as early as 3am and quickly large lines emerged. With a 16-million-people electoral register, the Venezuelans have 33,000 ballot tables at their disposal in over 11,000 polling stations all over the country. Caracas, in contrast to its normal chaotic traffic and loud street vendors, was quite calm and tranquil. There were few people driving and most business were closed, as most people were standing in line to vote.
As the day progressed no accusations of fraud were announced and the citizens continued voting proudly. There were only a few hang ups. Some complained about a bus of Chavista´s showing up to vote in opposition territory after voting stations were supposed to be closed. At another pulling station election officials were accused of only demonstrating how to vote for Manuel Rosales. For the most part when Chavista´s and Esqualidos, the opposition nick name, were asked if there was any possibility of election fraud most said they thought the election process was running normally. After voting citizens proudly displayed their newly died purple pinkies that indicated their voting. The polls closed at their normal times of 4pm, unless there was still a line of people waiting to vote.
Due to election reporting laws that disallow reporting of local polling data, local news outlets can only cite international sources. Around 6pm the first rumours of the Chavez victory filtered through the internet news. Soon after the Chavista´s took the streets and began a grand fiesta.
When the CNE released the first official vote tallies at 10 pm, revellers jumped and shouted for joy. Soon followed a grand pirate fireworks display and Grupo Medera´s "Uh Ah!" initiated dancing. Around 11pm Chavez greeted his supporters with three rounds of the National Anthem. He followed with his acceptance speech stating, "It's another defeat for the devil, who tries to dominate the world." "Down with imperialism." "We need a new world. Venezuela is demonstrating that a new and better world is possible, and we are building it." Through out his speech thousands dressed in red cheered through the pouring rain. Despite being drenched celebrators stayed out until four in the morning.
The lack of objections to the electoral process by the opposition has left many wondering what the opposition has planned for the future. With 10 million dollars given annually to anti Chavez groups by the US government, it seems unlikely that the next 10 years will go by with out some sort of flagrant interference. As for now the country is happy to have their president re-elected and continuing the Bolivarian revolution.
portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/12/350259.shtml
Viva Chavez!
by Saab Lofton
Tuesday December 05, 2006 at 03:29 PM
http://www.coanews.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=1323
saablofton.com
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