What next for Venezuela after the referendum?

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waves to supporters from the balcony of the Presidential Palace.

Preliminary results released by Venezuela's top electoral officer suggest President Hugo Chavez appears to have won a referendum on his leadership.

Officials from the National Electoral Council said that, with 94% of ballots counted, Mr Chavez had 58% of the vote.

Venezuela's opposition rejects the referendum's results and described them as a fraud.

The ballot was the latest attempt by the opposition to oust Mr Chavez from the presidency.

The president's opponents called the referendum, accusing him of dictatorial behaviour and economic mismanagement.

But his supporters say he is the first leader to care about Venezuela's poor.

What is the future for Venezuela after the referendum? How can people in Venezuela reunite? What is the possible global impact of the situation in Venezuela? Can international organizations help at all? Send us your comments

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

It's a bad day for democracy in Venezuela if Chavez does stay in power. Venezuela is just another nation with great oil wealth and can't manage it in a way most people get any benefit from it. Same goes for Nigeria, Mexico, Russia and most of the Middle East. So much wealth going to so few people lead to so much of the world's instability. This is where change is needed and with Chavez maintaining his grip on power, that change is nowhere down the line.
Dan Braverman, Minnesota USA

A great victory for Chavez and the poor of Venezuela. Let's hope that this is the last attempt by the U.S.prompted opposition to sell out their country. Let Chavez do his job and help the poor not line the pockets of the rich.
Brendan Keegan, Dublin Ireland