Chavez reported to have lost the election in Venezuela

From Reuters in the Guardian:

* Reuters * Monday December 3 2007

CARACAS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez has lost a referendum on whether he can run indefinitely for re-election, Venezuela's National Electoral Council on Monday said.

Chavez had 49.29 percent of the vote compared with 50.7 percent for the "No" camp.

The leftist sought approval for a raft of constitutional changes to increase presidential powers, advance his self-styled revolution and consolidate a socialist state for the OPEC nation.

The report of Chavez' loss was preceded by a Reuters report from Dec. 02, 2007 at 6:34 PM EST saying that he had won. See Reuters, 'Chavez wins Venezuela vote: sources' . That earlier report was based on government sources reported to be using exit poll data. The same 6:34 PM report further down in the text stated:

The opposition was skeptical of the government sources' exit poll data.

"According to our information, it is a statistical tie," said Leopoldo Lopez, a popular mayor of a Caracas municipality. He did not give details of any exit polls, other than to say the difference was "two points up, two points down."

Most pre-vote opinion surveys predicted a close vote on the package of constitutional changes that the opposition and even some former longtime allies say is authoritarian.

Then another report from Dec 3, 2007 at 1:44 AM EST states that Venezuelans reject Chavez's bid for new powers.

The self-styled revolutionary and close ally of Cuba conceded defeat but said he would "continue in the battle to build socialism."

Chavez also said the reform proposals remained "alive," suggesting he might try to push them through later on.

"This is not a defeat. This is another 'for now,'" Chavez said at his presidential palace, repeating a famous quote when as a red-bereted paratrooper he went on national television in 1992 and acknowledged his coup attempt had failed.

Students, rights and business groups, opposition parties, the Roman Catholic Church, former political allies and even his usually loyal ex-wife all lined up against Chavez ahead of the referendum vote.

They accused him of pushing the constitutional reforms to set up a dictatorship.

"Venezuela said 'No' to socialism, Venezuela said 'Yes' to democracy," said Leopoldo Lopez, the popular mayor of a Caracas district.

I wonder of this is the final report on this election?

I also wonder who sits on Venezuela's National Electoral Council. That report must have taken real courage.