[imc-auckland-video] FYI: right wing responce to chavez victory

[adowns at nz.greenpeace.org]

Chavez claims victory
EMBATTLED Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has officially claimed 
victory in the referendum on his presidency. According to the latest 
numbers released by the National Electoral Council, Chavez has 
received 58% of the votes (5.0M total), the opposition 42% (3.6M 
total). It remains unclear today how peacefully these results will be 
accepted by the opposition, and whether or not the election involved 
"voting irregularities". Already, a spokesman for the opposition has 
"categorically rejected" the results, dubbing them a "fraud". Crude oil 
futures fell today on news of the Chavez referendum, based on 
perceptions that a Chavez victory will keep Venezuela's oil flowing. 
However, oil analysts have also voiced concerns that Chavez has been 
diverting millions of dollars from state oil company PDVSA, using the 
money for social programmes to ensure his referendum victory – 
instead of for PDVSA's development. Chavez vowed in his victory 
speech to "intensify" such programmes. There have also been fears 
raised that the opposition may engage in violent protests after a 
referendum defeat, which could disrupt the PDVSA infrastructure. But 
a protest similar to the 2002-2003 general strike that shut off 
Venezuelan oil exports is considered unlikely, given that Chavez has 
filled the PDVSA workforce with his own allies.--------------------------------
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Anthony Downs
GPNZ Research & Logistics
Ph: +64 (0) 9 630 6317 ext: 813
Mob: +64 (0) 21 465 435