"Did Chávez make a mistake? Perhaps. Maybe we are not mature or the people are not ready to take on the socialist project," President Hugo Chávez said on Monday, a few hours after he admitted his proposed changes to the Constitution were rejected in a referendum held last Sunday.
 
"Rather than trying to point to those responsible here and there, I am saying that I made a mistake when I chose this strategic moment to make the proposal. Perhaps. These three or four million (voters he lost compared to the 2006 presidential election) are not politically mature for taking on a socialist project without fears. We have to assess that. It is a challenge," Chávez warned.

"We lacked more strenuous efforts to explain the reform to the people, to make them see what the way to socialism is. Let us wait. This is a process. Socialism cannot be decreed."

His comments came during a phone conversation with television show Dando y Dando on the official TV channel VTV. He said the adverse results "were a surprise" because exit polls up to 6 pm Sunday showed that the yes-bloc had the lead.

Further, Chávez conceded that the opposition's turnout was unchanged compared to previous votes, adding that his followers were not even six million, which is the number of people who have enrolled in this United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).