Referendum in doubt as Venezuelan crisis drags on
www.japantoday.com Thursday, January 16, 2003 at 09:30 JST
CARACAS — The holding early next month of a non-binding referendum on President Hugo Chavez's rule appeared increasingly in doubt Wednesday as Venezuelans looked abroad for help in resolving their months-long political and economic crisis.
The autonomous National Electoral Council (CNE) said it lacked the funds needed to hold the referendum, which is slated for Feb 2.
The administration, meanwhile, has said it will not provide the money until the Supreme Court rules on the legality of the plebiscite, which the opposition succeeding in getting scheduled by delivering to the CNE a petition with more than 2 million signatures.
CNE Vice President Jose Manuel Zerpa reiterated that, with its refusal to provide funds, "the administration is blocking the consultative referendum and infringing on the rights of voters." Meanwhile, ruling-party lawmaker Iris Varela cited what she said was the "technical inability" of the CNE to organize and hold a "transparent and impartial" referendum on the date scheduled.
In addition to the future of the non-binding referendum, Venezuelans are also awaiting the possible emergence of a "Friends of Venezuela" group that could help find a solution to the debilitating crisis.
Lawmakers from Chavez's 5th Republic Movement (MVR) have vetoed the United States as a possible member of the projected group, saying Washington's coolness toward the leftist-populist Chavez rules it out. Representatives of the opposition Democratic Coordinator oppose the inclusion of Brazil and Colombia, which they claim support the beleaguered president.
The two sides agree, however, that foreign cooperation could help jumpstart the negotiations moderated by Organization of American States (OAS) chief Cesar Gaviria to find "an electoral, constitutional, democratic and peaceful" solution to the Venezuelan crisis.
OAS-sponsored talks, which adjourned Monday and are scheduled to resume on Thursday, began on Nov 8 but have yet to produce results.
Both sides also concur on the need to resolve the crisis as soon as possible in view of the serious damage being sustained by the economy due to the open-ended general strike called by the opposition to try to force Chavez to step down or call immediate elections.
While support for the 45-day-old strike has waned among many small business owners, it remains strong in the vital oil industry, which accounts for 80% of Venezuela's exports and half of all government revenue. (EFE News Service)
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