Risk of Deceptions in Venezuelan Referendum, CEPR Warns
Recent History Shows Use of Fake Polls, Other Efforts to Undermine Credibility of Electoral Process
For Immediate Release: November 28, 2007
Contact: Dan Beeton, 202-293-5380 x104
WASHINGTON, D.C. - There is a significant risk that fraudulent polls and other deceptions will be used to challenge the results of Venezuela’s referendum, if proposed constitutional reforms are approved this Sunday, according to Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) economist and Co-Director Mark Weisbrot.
“The international media has not always exercised due diligence in its reporting on polling data and elections in Venezuela,” said Weisbrot, who has authored papers on previous elections there.
“This opens up the possibility for the use of fake polling, as was done in the last (2004) referendum, to cast doubt on the results if the proposed constitutional reforms are approved,” he said.
In 2004, the influential U.S. polling firm Penn, Schoen, and Berland published fake exit polls on the day of the Presidential recall referendum, showing President Hugo Chávez losing by a 59-41 margin.(1) The actual results, which were certified by observer missions from the Organization of American States and the Atlanta-based Carter Center, showed the opposite, with Chávez winning by a margin of 58 to 41 percent.(2)…
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Gleichzeitig soll die CIA unter dem Decknamen “Operación Tenaza” am Sturz Hugo Chávez’ arbeiten.
Man darf gespannt sein, ob die Amerikaner und die Oligarchie um Cisneros diesmal “erfolgreicher” sind beim Putschen oder ob sie wieder an ihrer eigenen Dummheit scheitern wie vor fast 6 Jahren. Was ich für wünschenwert halte.
Ich hoffe, dass das Referendum glatt über die Bühne geht, ein eindeutiges Ergebnis zu Stande kommt - pro oder contra Verfassungsänderung ist egal - und es kein Blutvergießen geben wird. Wenn es dazu kommen sollte, ist klar, wer dafür verantwortlich ist.