Emotions distracted me

Monday 1, 7:50 PM

I realized that I did not express well the meaning of the numbers I just reported.

Let's assume that indeed only 3 million signatures will be declared valid but that at least 500 thousand were invalid for some silly mistake but do represent the intention of the signing party. So we could say that of the 4 million, if we indeed have reached that number, 3.5 want Chavez out.

In 2000 Chavez was ratified in office by about 3.5 millions (or 3.7, memory fails me).

His combined opponents did not reach 3 million total (2.5 or 2.8 if memory does not fail me too much, but I am too lazy to check out exact numbers now).

3.5 million (30% of a 12 million electoral population) gave up their right to voting secrecy to have a recall election, in front of a government that publicly scorned those who would sign against it, while emitting barely veiled threats against them. Even yesterday Chavez threatened again.

How many millions do you think did not dare to sign against Chavez but will vote against him?

I hope the momentous event of these 4 days will be clearer now.

Or as our National Anthem says:

Gloria al bravo pueblo!

(Glory to the brave people. Sounds much better in Spanish)