• Originally published by  Reuters on August 15, 2004
  

Venezuelans Throng to Polls in Chavez Referendum

By Pascal Fletcher

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelans crowded polling stations on Sunday to vote on whether to recall left-wing President Hugo Chavez or back his mandate to govern the world's No. 5 oil exporter for the next two years.

Huge lines of eager voters besieged ballot centers guarded by troops in the biggest turnout officials could remember.

The National Electoral Council extended polling four hours until 8 p.m. to allow the huge throngs to vote.

Droves of waiting voters used umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun, sipped drinks from thermos flasks, read newspapers or played chess.

Venezuelans were anxious to make their choice to try to end the bitter feuding over Chavez's rule since 1998 that has divided Venezuela politically, inflamed social tensions and spooked international oil markets.

Voters used touch-screen voting machines to answer the referendum question of whether they wanted to recall a president reviled by opponents as an inept, bullying tyrant and hailed by supporters for his self-styled "revolution" diverting oil wealth to the poor majority.

"This shows people want this fight to end. ... It's time to put an end to this government," said Humberto Rojas, a 25-year-old economics student voting in Caracas.

To recall Chavez, the opposition must equal or beat the 3.76 million votes he received when re-elected for a six-year term in 2000. If the "No" vote is greater, he stays in office.

The opposition, a coalition of unions, business groups and political parties united mainly by distaste for Chavez, forced the referendum with a 2.4-million signature petition.

Despite technical problems, voting was peaceful. But fears persisted that a disputed outcome, especially if Chavez loses, could trigger violence. Early results could be announced before midnight on Sunday.

Chavez, voting in west Caracas, dismissed the worries and repeated a promise that he would accept the result.

"All those who were saying the dictator Chavez wouldn't agree to a vote. ... Well, here's the proof," said the president, who predicts an easy victory.

A friend of Cuban leader Fidel Castro ( news -web sites ), Chavez has accused the United States of backing the opposition. But, despite calling President Bush ( news -web sites ) an "asshole," Chavez has been careful to ensure a steady flow of oil exports to the United States.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

If Chavez loses, a presidential election will be held within 30 days. He says he will stand again, but the Supreme Court must rule if the constitution allows this.

International observers, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, were impressed by the massive turnout.

"Everything is going quite well," Carter told reporters as he visited a polling station in downtown Caracas, adding he had never seen such a turnout in more than 50 elections around the world observed by his organization, the Carter Center.

Energy markets worry about possible disruptions to oil shipments if the referendum provokes a repeat of the turmoil that broke out during a brief 2002 coup against Chavez and a subsequent opposition strike. This could increase oil prices that reached record levels above $46 a barrel Friday.

Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world outside the Middle East.

"Nothing is going to happen here. The president is going to win and violence doesn't bring anything for any side," said Cesar Benavides, a pro-Chavez street seller.

Former paratrooper Chavez, who led a failed coup six years before winning 1998 elections, has fanned fears of a backlash if he loses, saying soldiers and oil workers would not accept a government formed by his enemies.