A funny thing happens when you let the will of the people get expressed, you might not always like the results. Would-be-dictator Hugo Chavez put constitutional referendums before the people of Venezuela this weekend, and to his surprise they were voted down. Per the AP:
Without the overhaul, Chavez will be barred from running again in 2012.
Foes of the reform effort — including Roman Catholic leaders, media freedom groups, human rights groups and prominent business leaders — said it would have granted Chavez unchecked power and imperiled basic rights.
The defeated reform package would have created new types of communal property, let Chavez handpick local leaders under a redrawn political map and suspended civil liberties during extended states of emergency.
"This reform was about democracy or totalitarian socialism, and democracy won," said opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez said.
All was reported calm during Sunday's voting but 45 people were detained, most for committing ballot-related crimes like "destroying electoral materials," said Gen. Jesus Gonzalez, chief of a military command overseeing security.
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