Opposition leaders angered by TSJ referendum ruling

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 2:28:59 AM By: Robert Rudnicki

Opposition leaders have expressed their anger at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) ruling that blocks the planned February 2 consultative referendum, which the opposition called for in November last year.

Primero Justicia deputy Julio Borges slammed the decision as a sign that "the government doesn't car about the will of the people, it only cares about staying in power ... today there is a dictatorship in Venezuela."

Meanwhile, Coordinadora Democratica negotiator Timoteo Zambrano complained that "this is a demonstration of the political control the government has in the TSJ, "it is unfair ... the government is just blocking all democratic avenues."

The opposition is now believed to be taking a little time to consider what its next steps will be, although it now seems that the only realistic option, other than waiting for the August referendum the government is proposing, is to seek a constitutional amendment that would permit an early general election, as was proposed by former US President Jimmy Carter.

Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel called on the whole nation to respect the TSJ ruling, while expressing doubt that the referendum would ever materialize.