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Venezuela: Opposition believes in the victory of «NO»

November 30, 2007
Top left: Leopoldo Lopez making a speech, top right:Luis Ignacio Planas making a speech, bottom right: Stalin Gonzalez making a speech
The campaign on the constitutional referendum is nearing its end in Venezuela. On November 29, on the capital avenida Bolivar the closing down manifestation is to be held by the supporters of «NO», and on November 30 – by the supporters of «SI».

On the eve of the large in number meeting the top-level leaders of opposition, «Bloque del NO», gave a press-conference to foreign correspondents, accredited in the country and those, who specially arrived to cover the referendum.

Leopoldo Lopez, alcalde of the privileged district Chacao, representing party «Un Nuevo Tiempo», Enrique Capriles, also alcalde of another privileged district Baruta, representing party «Primero Justicia», Luis Ignacio Planas, General Secretary of party COPEI, Stalin Gonzalez, leader of students of Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) and Carlos Vecchio, representing the «Civil movement» (Ciudadania Activa) addressed the journalists.

In his speech L. Lopez, first of all, paid attention to inequality of abilities of the campaign, into which, the state, that is the government of Chavez drew maximum of its abilities. For example, the state TV according to Lopez, 51 hour was given to propaganda of «SI», and only 38 minutes to «NO».

He declared that he was sure that the majority of Venezuelans opposed the constitutional reform «NO» and would win with advantage of 10-15%. The Venezuelans, according to him, have always come for democratic way, and reform of constitution in case of victory of «SI» will lead to establishment of authoritarian socialism.

The main subject of E. Capriles speech was the «uselessness of the reform»: a lot of what was proposed by Chavez and his parliament is being done, and the rest does not require changes in constitution (which, by the way, Chavez himself calls the best in the world for the moment, but requiring renewal for building of the socialist society). According to the general opinion of opposition, all this «has been started only because of termless rule of Chavez, as in certain African countries, in ex-USSR and Cuba».

L. I. Planas has declared that the government manipulates the polls data. In reality, not a single poll confirmed the victory of «SI». Really, when asked who would win, the majority would answer in favour of «SI», however, when asked who would they vote for, «NO» would win. He was also sure in victory of «NO», that would make the Chavez government correct the form of ruling in the interests of the complete society.

Lawyer by profession, C. Vecchio thinks that the reform of the constitution will considerably restrict the human rights – for information, private property, freedom to express own opinion. According to him, the people will be deprived of the rights to elect alcaldes and governors, who after the reform, will be appointed by the president. He demonstrated to the journalists the «opposition variant» of the booklet with Constitution. Today it is of a blue colour. Chavez proposes to make it red («rojo-rojito»). «Bloque del NO» would like to see the booklet of three colours – as the flag of Venezuela.

The student leader with expressive name Stalin came when the speeches were almost over, that is why, he involuntarily repeated what was already said. About the youth opposition he only said that it didn't know other presidents except Chavez, who was at power for a long time, but was sure that all previous ones were better.

Unfortunately that part of the press-conference at which the journalists asked questions, was very brief. Those who answered the questions added that they were very much concerned about those 100 laws that Chavez planned to adopt after the referendum and about which «nobody knew anything». For example, would the acting since the dictator Gomez trade law be changed, which, according to Chavez, required modernisation.

Concluding the conference Leopoldo Lopez fervently said: «We shall not bestow our right to vote, elect!»

There remained one unanswered question – why for so many years of confrontation to Chavez the opposition did not produce a common leader. In particular, Ismael Garcia, party «Podemos», who broke off from the Chavists and who was announced for participation in common conference of «Bloque del NO», preferred to carry out a separate press-conference. There was no reply either to the question what actions of opposition would be taken in case of victory of «SI».

So on December 2 the people of Venezuela once more shall decide the future of their country.
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