The results of Colombia's referendum on austerity and political reform hung in the balance on Sunday, with cost-saving questions in danger of rejection because not enough people had voted.
The key question, keenly watched by international investors, which asked voters yesterday's referendum to approve a two-year salary freeze for state workers, received 80 per cent approval, according to the government's electoral office.
But, with 97.3 per cent of polling booths counted, only 24.2 per cent of the electorate had registered a vote on the point - still falling short of the 25 per cent participation necessary for the result to be valid.
Counting of ballots was suspended early this morning and was set to start again several hours later.
President Alvaro Uribe, who enjoys a 75 per cent approval rating largely thanks to tough policies against leftist rebels, hoped his popularity would translate into a big voter turnout even though the measures would mean sacrifice for many ordinary Colombians.
Mr Uribe said the referendum's proposals would reduce graft, save money for spending on schools and hospitals, and ward off the prospect that Colombia could slump into Argentine-style economic collapse.
Unions and most political opponents of the right-wing president had campaigned for voters to abstain from the referendum, arguing that it would hurt the poor.
But Mr Uribe faced not only a campaign for abstention but also widespread confusion about the meaning of the 15 complex questions included on a ballot sheet almost as large as a tabloid newspaper.