December 1999 Venezuelan constitutional referendum
15 December 1999
Do you endorse the new Constitution drafted by the National Constituent Assembly?
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 3,301,475 71.78%
No 1,298,105 28.22%
Valid votes 4,599,580 95.45%
Invalid or blank votes 219,476 4.55%
Total votes 4,819,056 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 10,940,596 44.05%
Results by state

A constitutional referendum was held in Venezuela on 15 December 1999.[1] Voters were asked whether they approved of the new constitution drawn up by the Constitutional Assembly elected earlier in the year. The question was:

Do you endorse the new Constitution drafted by the National Constituent Assembly?

It was approved by 72% of voters, although turnout was only 44%.[2]

Controversy

Some in Venezuela believed that the new constitution centralized the national government greatly, granting it too much power while also making too many promises.[3] Henrique Capriles Radonski, then Vice President of the Congress and President of the Chamber of Deputies, stated "This is a centralist, presidentialist constitution with no spread of power to the states and cities ... This is a corrupt constitution that will leave Venezuela backward and poor".[3] Others scoffed at all of the red tape the constitution granted which would scare away foreign investment while also recognizing over-reliance on imported goods.[3]

Weeks before the election, tens of thousands protested against the constitutional changes on 24 November 1999, stating that it granted the president, Hugo Chávez, too much power.[3] Chávez responded to his opposition, stating "Those who side with the 'No' vote should get ready because the attack will be merciless ... I will put my boots on and unsheathe my sword".[3]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For3,301,47571.78
Against1,298,10528.22
Total4,599,580100.00
Valid votes4,599,58095.43
Invalid/blank votes220,2064.57
Total votes4,819,786100.00
Registered voters/turnout10,940,59644.05
Source: Nohlen

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p555 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
  2. ↑ Nohlen, p567
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Murdock, Deroy (14 December 1999). "VIEW FROM THE U.S.: Power grab has some Venezuelans worried: A6". The Windsor Star.
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