International Press on the Venezuela Referendum

RSF hopes referendum to stop “media war” in Venezuela

Reporters without Borders (RSF) Monday said the defeat of President Hugo Chávez’ intended constitutional reform was influenced by the planned changes to regulations governing press freedom and hoped the result of the vote to put an end to the “media war” in Venezuela.

“We are convinced that the result of the polls was directly influenced by the major issue of the media and the intended changes to provisions related to press freedom,” RSF said in a communiqué.

The non-governmental organization reminded that Chávez’s intended changes to the Constitution included the possibility for the President of Venezuela to declare states of emergency unilaterally and without time restrictions and, if he deemed it necessary, to suppress press freedom, Efe reported.

The tight vote “echoes the huge divide that is hitting the Venezuelan society.” The result should lead “both the authorities and the civil society to commit to take part in peaceful, calm talks about the future of the media and the public freedoms.”

Panama newspapers highlight Chávez’s defeat

Panama major newspapers Monday highlighted the defeat of President Hugo Chávez’s proposed constitutional reform in Sunday referendum.

Daily newspaper La Prensa headline read “NO prevails” and “Chávez’s government concedes vote is tight,” adding that Chávez blamed his defeat on abstention and branded the opposition’s victory as “pyrrhic.”

Also in Panama, daily newspaper Mi Diario headlines read “The Commander was stopped,” and underscored that “Venezuela said no to Chávez and his intentions to remain in power forever.”

US media: Venezuelans denied further powers to Chávez

Major US newspapers Monday highlighted the way Venezuelans refused to grant President Hugo Chávez further ruling powers and dealt a harsh defeat to the ruler in a tight vote in Sunday referendum on his proposed constitutional reform.

The Washington Post print edition claimed “Venezuelans dealt an irritating defeat to Chávez, as they stopped the proposed changes to the Constitution that could have accelerated the transformation of this oil-rich country into a socialist state.”

The New York Times website stressed that the vote was very tight.

The Washington Times highlighted the happiness of the Venezuelan opposition upon the announcement of the results.

Los Angeles Times branded Chávez’s defeat -”the first one in his nine years in power”- as “astounding.” “Some analysts forecast this defeat -which has shattered Chávez’s image of invincibility, and is likely to encourage his opponents in the country.”

Uruguayan press reports: Most Venezuelans told Chávez No

“The majority told Chávez No,” Monday said the front-page headline of Uruguayan daily newspaper El País on the results of the reform referendum held on Sunday in Venezuela.

“Reform: the President acknowledged his defeat; the No-bloc gained 50.9 percent of votes,” El País reported.

Bolivia’s press points to rejection of Chávez’s reform

Bolivian daily newspapers Monday devoted headlines and published special reports about the defeat of President Hugo Chávez’s intended constitutional reform.

Daily newspaper La Razón’s first-page headline read, “No-bloc wins in Venezuela and Chávez admits his defeat,” stressing this is the first electoral setback for Chávez in nine years.

La Prensa reported, “Chávez loses and his Constitution is not given green light.” This daily newspaper, in a four-page special supplement, stressed that Chávez lost to “the new opposition and the mobilization of university students.”

Honduras press reports on triumph of No vote and Chávez’s defeat in referendum

Newspapers in Honduras highlighted on Monday in the front page the defeat of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in a referendum held on Sunday on the proposed changes to the Constitution, including indefinite reelection.

“NO triumphs in Venezuela,” read a front page headline in daily newspaper La Tribuna, edited in Tegucigalpa, and then, inside, it noted: “Hugo Chávez’s constitutional reform rejected in Venezuela.”

Daily newspaper Tiempo, in northern San Pedro Sula, stated also in the front page: “NO wins,” and added: “Hugo Chávez accepts his defeat,” Efe quoted.

Cuban media emphasize Chávez’s moral

The Cuban media stressed on Monday the ethical stance showed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez when acknowledging his defeat in a referendum held last Sunday and noted that, regardless of the setback, the Bolivarian revolution will be increasingly stronger.

“Chávez: The revolution showed its ethic spirit,” was the front page headline of Granma, the official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party, in a succinct note reporting on a press conference held early morning by the Venezuelan president.

For its part, state-run news agency Prensa Latina underscored Chávez’s commitment to continue strengthening the Bolivarian revolution.

The Cuban TV would devote on Monday its prime-time show, “La Mesa Redonda,” to discuss about the results of the referendum in Venezuela.

Colombian press labels Chávez’s defeat in referendum as tough setback

The Colombian press highlighted on Monday the refusal to the changes to the Constitution prompted by President Hugo Chávez and submitted to a referendum held on Sunday.

According to newspaper El Colombiano, it was “the toughest setback” for the head of state after nine years in office.

“Venezuela said no to Chávez,” read the front page headline of daily newspaper El Heraldo, of northern Baranquilla. The newspaper stressed the presence of a Colombian delegation, composed mostly of relatives of hostages held by the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), in the place where Chávez acknowledged defeat, AFP reported.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Interesting but not very impressive. What reactions can you expect from the quoted newspapers? The expected according to their sympaties or antipaties towards Hugo Chávez. Of course Cuba’a Granma will be positive to Chávez, as many of the Latin American and US media quoted could only be expected to express their joy over Chávez’ defeat.
But where are the good and serious Latin American media in your ‘report’? Where is the analysis of how media in and outside Venezuela have covered the campaign, the voting and Chávez’ response?
And where are the analysis of the future media situation in Venezuela after the referendum? Will the extreme polarization and manipulation on both sides disappear? Will it be easier for the Venezuelans to get fair information? Or will the media war continue or even escalate?

Those are some of the questions I would like to see discussed and analyzed, so that we can learn from what is happening in Venezuela and put us in a better condition to help those journalists and other media workers who may have problems or come in danger in the future.