Venezuelans' vote against President Hugo Chavez's proposed constitutional changes Sunday must be seen as a triumph for democracy in that country.

On the back of victories in ten elections over the course of his eight years in power, Mr. Chavez sent Venezuelans to the polls Sunday to vote on 69 changes to the constitution. If approved they would have strengthened his position as leader.

In the short run, for example, he would have assumed control of the assets of Venezuela's central bank. For the long haul, term limits for the president -- him -- would have been abolished, opening the road to his becoming president-for-life of the South American state of 26 million.

To prepare the ground for the changes, Mr. Chavez had carried out an extensive program of social reforms, putting more revenue from Venezuela's petroleum sales to the benefit of the poor by investing in education, health care and housing.

Nonetheless, Venezuelans voted to slow the pace of what Mr. Chavez's socialist revolution by rejecting his constitutional changes -- "reforms," he called them. Why did they do that?

First, it may have been a stubborn affirmation of democracy in the country, underlining the concept that power still resides in the people, with their wishes still expressed despite incentives and blandishments from Mr. Chavez.

In addition, the political juggernaut that Mr. Chavez has been creating in the country -- red shirts, militant youth groups, public rallies, power to him as long as he wants -- may have scared a good number of Venezuelans. They might like him in general, but forever is a long time in a country that has had its share of nasty dictators.

Another element may have been Mr. Chavez's avid export of his leadership and point of view. He has given away a lot of oil money to try to win hearts and minds to his cause in Bolivia, Cuba, Colombia and even the United States. Mr. Chavez as a great world figure might be hard for poorer Venezuelans to see as a valid goal.

Finally, in spite of some recurrent anti-American sentiment in Venezuela, many people there may have been made uncomfortable by Mr. Chavez's constant slamming of the United States and its president, sometimes in very personal terms.

Sunday's election would seem to have reined him in, probably a good development for his country. He seems to have an enormous ego and may be irrepressible, so this may not yet be over. At the same time, his statements since Sunday's results suggest that he now may be somewhat chastened, having been taught a lesson by the voters. Friends of Venezuela would like to see it on a more even keel.