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:

No help, no hope. Chavez is a highly polarizing figure, a demagogue promising the destitute of Venezuela a pie in a sky. His economic policy (modelled after Cuba's Castro) reminds me of Allende's catastrophic one in Chile. The problem is that whether Chavez stays or goes there will always be half of the country feeling helpless. I think that U.S.

The problem is that whether Chavez stays or goes there will always be half of the country feeling helpless Mirek Kondracki, American in Poland

will sit this one out, because any action on our part, no matter how fair and benign will be perceived by South America's poor as an attempt to subjugate one of biggest oil exporters in the world. Isn't worth it!
Mirek Kondracki, American in Poland

I was not surprised that Chavez won considering the majority of Venezuela is poor and Chavez is helping the poor. The opposition does have the loudest voice because they own the private media, but they are really the minority, which the referendum showed. The only way for a good future is if the opposition accepts Chavez victory and stops meddling until the next election. The only way opposition would quiet down is if the US stops supporting the opposition.
Phillip, Ottawa Canada

A great victory for democracy and a slap in the face for American hegemony. Congratulations to Mr Chavez and the great Venezuelan people.
Nausherwan Lahori, Lahore, Pakistan

Chavez is a truly extraordinary phenomenon. Anyone who followed the short lived coup will be left in no doubt about his charismatic leadership, something that the world in a way hungers for in its political leaders. Like all politicians he is flawed, but what other chance do the poor of Venezuela have? The country has so much potential, but is locked in perhaps the last great battle of socialism and capitalism. Is he a dictator? Then why do the poor support him so much even when their gains have been few? Is he not right to demand that his country get full benefit from their oil?

The country has so much potential, but is locked in perhaps the last great battle of socialism and capitalism Tony Sheehan, Cork Ireland

And, when documentaries highlight the role of media in ideology, is it not the case that Chavez truly is the Anti-Globalisation symbol, the last socialist hero?
Tony Sheehan, Cork Ireland

Venezuela is for everybody! The results should be accepted and we need to keep working for our country.
Nora Moncada, Caracas- Venezuela

My wife is Venezuelan and I grew up there. This is nothing but a fraud. Chavez cannot be trusted. This is a person that divides the people by creating resentment. The poor aren't better with him, they are just concerned with the "rich" being poor, and that is what it all comes down to. Lower classes are not doing much better. I see nothing good coming.
Marcus, Washington DC (Caracas)

The victory of Chavez is a boon for the poor and working classes in Venezuela, he may not have done everything for them, but he has at least given them a voice. I think the possibility of Venezuela reuniting is slight because, finally, the class lines have been drawn, they have always been there but since the government only represented the oligarchies no one could see it. Chavez' victory helps consolidate the wave of populist left sweeping Latin America and good luck to the vast majority who deserve someone who at least stands up for them. My only worry is that the "democratic" opposition will resort to their old tricks again, they have pulled off one coup, hopefully we won't have another Chile on our hands.
Robert Knox, Preston, UK

I am glad that Chavez won - it shows democracy is working. However, I hope Chavez is not so naive as to think Castro is an ally. I do not like the way Gov. Gray Davis of California was thrown out mid-term. I think this is very destabilizing. It is a good thing that Chavez is still in.
Kaye, NY USA

Good News. A clear vote for Chavez which should bring stability to the country, oil markets and the region.
Edward Teague, Oldham.UK

Venezuelan people are victim of a fraud again. Please, Venezuela needs the help of the international institutions. Chavez is a dictator and want to destroy my country. Please help us. After the referendum and before this fraud, we are asking for help
Ana, London-UK

Now we will see the CIA in action because President Bush will not accept the democratic decision of the Venezuelan people. If I was Chavez I would not sell oil to anybody, I would keep it for the Venezuelans.
Anteo Sergovich, Istria, Croatia

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