referendum

Hugo Chavez, president for life – now a possibility

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:21:11 +0100

Anti double-voting ink. Image: Franca Alejandra on Flickr

Over 54% of Venezuelan voters opted for Chavez to be able to stay in power for an indefinite period on Sunday.

The government campaigned hard to get their message across with a hefty TV, radio and canvassing operation listing reasons why the president should be allowed to re-apply for his post. Reason number one? "Chavez loves us and love is repaid with love". After he was re-elected in 2006, Chavez already made it clear that he planned to run for president again in 2012, and has talked of ruling way beyond that date. But this constitutional victory doesn't necessarily mean that he will. Venezuela is yet to feel the real effects of the financial crisis, but the price of petrol has already shot up and inflation is soaring. Whether President Chavez will be able to weather the storm with such fierce opposition, is another question.

Gay marriage outlawed anew in California. Are Mormons to blame?

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:47:28 +0100

Why do you get ten wives and I can't even have one? Protest outside a Mormon temple on Santa Monica Blvd, LA. Posted on Flickr by Evan Jacobs 6 November 08.

Since same-sex marriage was banned in California last Tuesday, gay activists have rallied against the vote with daily protests, blaming the Mormon Church for swaying the electorate with a cash-crammed campaign. One blogger is calling for a "boycott of the State of Utah" and all business owners who donated to the cause.

On the same day that the first ever black American was elected to the White House, gay couples were banned from getting married in California. Since May this year, gay Californian couples had been enjoying the same rights as heterosexual couples, but in a poll on Tuesday, just over half of the state (52.5%) voted to take them away. Coming from the country's most liberal state, which is considered a groundbreaker on the matter, the decision came as a shock. So shocking in fact, that even Republican state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke out against it on Sunday, encouraging gay rights activists "not to give up". MSNBC's comic presenter Keith Olbermann also condemned the decision, calling it "horrible". On Monday, 43 Democrat legislators went even further by signing a petition urging the Supreme Court to void Prop 8.

Meanwhile, gay rights activists have been protesting daily from Sacramento to San Diego, targeting in particular the Mormon Church (LDS), which poured over $15m into the ProtectMarriage campaign according to the Mormons for Proposition 8 website, which lists donors and amounts given.

Protestors chant "shame on you" outside a Mormon Temple in Westwood, Los Angeles. Posted by "Jaromellz" 8 Nov. 08.

Demonstrators marched to and from a Mormon temple in Silverlake, LA on Saturday. Posted by "wojo4hitz" 10 Nov. 08.

EU referendum in Ireland: "We've got as much as we can, let's get out now"

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:36:51 +0200

Images: William Murphy on Flickr

If the Irish people vote "No" to the Lisbon Treaty today, the document will be binned. A traditionally pro-Europe nation, last week the polls showed a change in opinion, with "No" coming out as the likely winner. Irish voters from both sides tell us why the treaty is "scary".

The Lisbon Treaty, signed last December, is an amendment to the proposed European Union constitution that was quashed by "No" votes in French and Dutch referendums in 2005. While most of the EU's 27 states chose to let their MPs make the decision this time round, Ireland's constitution forbids this, and the republic goes to the polls tomorrow. Pro-EU observers wait nervously for the results, after a poll published by The Irish Times on Friday (6 June) saw 5% more voters saying "no" (35%) rather than "yes" (30%). If the Irish say no, the treaty will have to be forgotten.

Online reactions to the 'No' vote in Venezuela

Julien — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:10:49 +0100

Material compiled by Cristiano de Sa Fagundes, our regional editor for Latin America.

Hugo Chavez counted on the people to support his constitutional reform. But the people didn't follow. This is the first time the Venezuelan president has been defeated since he was elected. The event was thoroughly celebrated by his opponents and closely watched by bloggers throughout Latin America.

Post your questions to contributing bloggers: Emiliano Crespo (Mexico), Nelson Franco Jobim (Brazil), Freddy Armas (Venezuela).