(25 Apr 1999) Spanish/Nat

Venezuelans have been voting in a nationwide referendum on whether to begin a revision of the constitution.

The proposal for a new constitution is the centerpiece of President Hugo Chavez's agenda to transform Venezuela.

Some 11 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote on Sunday.

The nationwide referendum is an important test for President Hugo Chavez, as it will show just how far the people are willing to let him go in rewriting the country's constitution.

The vote is on whether to convoke a constituent assembly to do the rewriting, and whether to approve the terms Chavez has laid out for electing its members.

Chavez, a former army paratrooper who staged a bloody, failed 1992 coup, has alarmed the political opposition by saying the proposed assembly should dissolve Congress and the Supreme Court.

He insists the goal of such a move is to overhaul a corrupt political system that has impoverished most Venezuelans.

With Chavez's approval ratings at over 80 percent, his proposal is expected to win handily.

Despite this, turnout was quite low.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We are here because it is important that we show our support to President Chavez at this time. I am calling on all my fellow citizens to get up early, and before going to the beach come and show your support for our President because this is the only say that we have."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop, Voter

Many scholars agree there is little wrong with Venezuela's 1961 constitution that couldn't be corrected through reforms.

The country has had 25 constitutions since 1811, and some of Chavez's opponents believe adopting No. 26 will do little to address Venezuela's fundamental malaise.

But the proposed writ has come to symbolize Chavez's vow to shake up a system that most Venezuelans believe has failed them.

The president insists he wants to break the traditional parties' stranglehold on public institutions, making them more representative.

International monitors were present at the voting.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We are watching that the voting is carried out normally, that assistance is given to members of the public. It was predictable that an electoral process asking questions of the people that does not have a candidate to vote for would lead, as always, to a low turnout."
SUPER CAPTION: Armando Cesar, Member of Supreme Tribunal of Ecuador - International Monitor

Critics fear that debilitating Venezuela's old power brokers will only lead to more power for Chavez, who has said the constituent assembly should extend his term to up to 14 years.

While taking his oath of office February 2, Chavez stunned Venezuelans by labeling the current constitution 'moribund'.

He then called for the dissolution of the other two branches of government, threatened to declare a state of emergency and rule by decree, and instituted a plan to increase the role of the army in society.

Chavez's plan for a new constitution has led to fears that it could mark the beginning of the transformation of Chavez into just another Latin American caudillo, or strongman.

Others insist the move shows his good intentions.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"This gives confidence. This gives confidence to the international community because they can see that the government is taking the right steps in consulting the people before taking certain decisions."
SUPER CAPTION: Edgar Sanchez, Economic Analyst

Chavez's ascent to power is seen by many as a flashing red warning sign about the region's failure to reduce poverty and corruption.

So far, the constitutional process has been fraught with conflict.

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