CARACAS, Venezuela -- The margin of victory in Sunday's Venezuelan referendum on lifting term limits -- 55 to 45 percent -- succinctly reflects both President Hugo Chávez's continued strength and the opposition's rise. The government has been spinning the comfortable victory, which allows Chávez to run again in 2012, into a resounding show of support for the president's socialist project and a rejection of the opposition, which it paints as a carry-over from the corrupt liberal democracy of old. The opposition, for its part, argues that it has essentially broken even with Chávez, earning credibility and putting it within striking distance of taking back power. Without doubt, the results give Chávez a boost and deal the opposition a blow after the latter's modest but significant gains in November state and local elections. (See Anastasia Moloney's WPR Briefing.) But for both sides, the results may be the wake-up call they needed. While they show that Venezuela's political landscape is no longer dominated by Chávez, neither is it as evenly divided as the opposition claims. But Sunday's voting does indicate that the opposition is slowly bridging the gap and becoming more competitive.
Venezuelans Send Chávez, Opposition a Wake Up Call
