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Allegations of voter fraud in Chavez re-election victory

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    Exit polls challenge legitimacy of results in Venezuela

  • Duration 3:49
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Their tanks on the streets in Venezuela as Hugo Chavez declares victory and a hard fought reelection battle.

Chavez winning a third term with 54% of the vote.

That's his slimmest margin of victory yet.

But the exit polls told a different story ambassador Stuart Holliday is a former US ambassador to the UN for special political affairs thank you for joining us ambassador.

There are no questions about the legitimacy of these results we have venezuelans tweeting exit polls showing that the challenger -- Enrique capriles actually won by several percentage points is their recourse here.

Well there are elections coming up at that through the governorship level that won't really reveal won't be another referendum on what I see is -- real decline and in Chavez's popularity.

-- in terms of -- course it's can be very challenging to overturn the results of these elections.

You have you know highly technical election -- process but it's very clear that with Chavez controlling the airwaves election commission.

And pumping hundreds of millions of dollars -- two the provinces before the elections that it amounts to what I think would be.

At least a five point differential if this was the truly transparent free election.

Well yeah even if there are no income irregularities found at the polls as you say critics say that -- -- state controlled media to influence public opinion he gave away pensions and houses.

Essentially buying votes -- If that is the case is it surprising that Chavez won by a much smaller margin than in the past.

It is it is very surprising I mean this is a man who is ridden the oil revenue increase into.

Basically a system where he's been able to maintain his popularity by re distributing wealth throughout the country.

-- I think the fact that you saw this extraordinary.

A candidate who travel the country of people openly.

Embraced him at a time when a lot of people view Chavez's near god like figure in in the country.

Shows that the opposition is coalescing its unifying and there's real chance of the the Chavez -- in the big picture is is coming to a and and so how to -- is at stake for the United States and Venezuelan politics.

Well it's really what Travis does on the international stage that's of concern to us of course we still have.

You -- well trading system work with Venezuela but its relationships with countries like Iran and Cuba.

That really draw the most consternation for us I mean if Chavez were not supplying the Castro regime with the oil in Cuba we probably see a change in regime -- The same thing is is is concerning for a foothold for the Ahmadinejad.

Government there in Latin America.

Which could lead over and other countries looking for a way to kind of stand up against the United States.

So -- -- does does looking energetic lately but he's been battling cancer or other health issues as well do you see him serving out his full term and will help them issues that impact his ability to do that.

Well I don't know exactly what his prognosis is although what we understand is it's pretty serious so it's a six year term chance of them serving that full firmer.

Unlikely in my view.

That said we -- we've already seen a decline in energy.

A decline in engagement in public events.

And that has allowed.

Candidates like mr.

Padilla has to come forward and sort of fill the vacuum because.

One of mr.

Chavez's.

Strengths was his ability to be on television for -- you know for hours at a time haranguing the United States.

Talking about.

Helping the -- And he's not been able to be that visible so -- do think it's gonna have an impact -- -- I don't think he'll serve out his term.

Who happens ambassador Stuart Holliday thank you.

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