Key referendum proposals in Ecuador knot up

[rabs]

The two proposals that are the backbone of Correa's referendum proposals are tied with the NO slightly in front. That is with 44.6 percent of the national vote counted as of earlier today. Today was the first time that the NO has taken a very slight lead in the two proposals.

Referendum proposal No. 4 -- to reform the country's judiciary, edged ahead 44.50 percent NO to 44.35 percent for the SI.

Proposal No. 9 -- to create a goverment commission to regulate some content (violence, crime, etc.) in the media had 43.9 percent NO to 43.2 percent SI.

The percentages are based on a little more than 1.6 million votes counted for each the NO and the SI.

Correa today said there is "manipulation" of the results by the opposition, such as delaying reporting results from various regions to give the impression that the SI did not win a clear victory on all 10 proposals, as Correa said on Saturday night, based on exit polls.

He also said there was ”elucubración de los medios” by the opposition media in suggesting a technical tie regarding proposals No. 4 and No. 9. "elucubracion is a fancy word for making up crazy ideas -- or "lucubration," in this case "pretentious writing." (No, I have never used the word "lucubration" and had to look it up.)

Correa said he was still confident the SI would win when all the results are in.

(Above info from Quito and Guyaquil media.)

[Judi Lynn]

1. Sure hope it turns out the right way, not the right-wing way.

I heard about the "news" media in Ecuador years ago. Clearly they share the same spiritual realm with El Universal and the rest of Venezuela's finest.

The numbers look so close, at this point.

Thanks for the information. First seen here, of course!

Recommending.

[Peace Patriot]

2. Something's not right. The exit polls said 60% win for the referendum.

We shouldn't forget that, while the Left may control the national government, there are a number of provinces, in Ecuador, Venezuela and Bolivia, still controlled by rightwing to fascist/racist governors. Rightists, fascists and racists are known for their brutal tactics and lies and deceptions with regard to elections and in general, when the right gains power.

Correa points to an interesting possibility--that, given the exit polls indicating a sweeping victory of the Left on the referendum (consistent with Correa's popularity ratings--60% range and higher)--the provinces where rightwing governors are in charge may be withholding results. Is this merely to score with the local and international corpo-fascist press (to deny Correa a positive headline) or somehow to cloud the results to make implementation of the 10 amendments more difficult, or is it a delay to dump some of the ballot boxes in local rivers and change the outcome?

I wonder if the international election observers are still present in these areas. They usually stick around until final results are announced. They are generally not slouches in that regard. They work hard, before, during and after elections. But I don't know who it is. If it's the OAS, which has a past rep as good election monitors, but which Hillary Clinton seriously compromised in Haiti, I would be somewhat concerned. How deep has U.S. interference in OAS election monitoring gone? And who else is there? Sometimes it's several different international groups.

[rabs]

3. The OAS observer mission is still in Quito

Mission leader Enrique Correa (Chilean) yesterday (Monday) dismissed any notion there had been fraud in the voting process. He said the mission would stay until the final results are known.

But he was critical of the tabulation of the votes, which he faulted on lack of preparation and training on the part of the people doing the counting.

Correa (of the OAS) said the known results (as of yesterday) confirmed the rapid-count projection on Saturday night by the National Electoral Council that gave the victory to the government.

Correa (the president) on Monday denounced that the counting of the votes was being manipulated and blamed "traditional politicians" of having planted infiltrators in some electoral tribunals.

The opposition, which backed the NO, requested a recount alleging "numerical inconsistancies."

(Another delaying tactic to obstruct the counting.)

(Traditional = Lucio Gutierrezistas and other opposition plus the mummified oligarchs and the opposition media, such as El Comercio of Quito and El Universo of Guayaquil, the country's two main newspapers.)

--------------------------
El presidente de la nación, Rafael Correa, denunció este lunes que se está "manipulando el conteo de votos" y culpó a políticos tradicionales de tener "infiltradas" y "enquistadas" algunas cortes electorales.

La oposición, que promovió el No en la consulta popular, solicitó el recuento de las actas, que de acuerdo al Consejo Nacional Electoral CNE) presentan "inconsistencias numéricas" y no han podido ser incorporadas al escrutinio nacional, informó el congresista Cesar Montúfar.

Resaltó que los resultados conocidos confirman la proyección de un conteo rápido divulgado el sábado por el CNE, que da la victoria a la parte oficial.

http://www.telesurtv.net/secciones/noticias/92622-NN/misión-de-la-oea-descartó-fraude-en-referendo-de-ecuador/

[Bacchus39]

5. the vote is the only real poll, and people could vote for the 10 questions individually n/t

s

[Bacchus39]

4. maybe he should wait for all the votes to be counted n/t

s

[rabs]

6. Bomb threat halted counting today

at the National Electoral Council where the tallying is continuing.

Threat was called in about 4:30 this afternoon. Building was evacuated, searched and cleared after about an hour. Workers returned to counting.

Looks like the opposition is resorting to threats to try to disrupt and delay the official results.

-------------------------- El Comercio of Quito ---------------
Redacción Política

alerta | 18:15 - martes 10/05/2011 Luego de casi una hora en la cal seis policías del GIR y dos canes revisaron detenidamente las instalaciones del Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE) y no encontraron ninguna amenaza.

Hace 10 minutos los trabajadores retornaron a sus actividades.

Cerca de las 16:30 al edificio del Consejo Nacional Electoral en Quito llegó una amenaza de bomba mediante una llamada telefónica.

En vista de esto el personal de la sede del CNE fue evacuado del edificio para que los grupos de Intervención Especial de la Policía y las Fuerzas Armadas entren a revisar el lugar.

[Judi Lynn]

7. The timing says everything, doesn't it? Good grief. Thanks for the news. n/t

[joshcryer]

8. And it could be an Ashley Todd move...

...but oh no our side never does wrong.