Santana proposes alternative referendum not to lose face

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, January 24, 2003 - 3:07:44 PM By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Queremos Elegir leader Elias Santana says the democratic opposition will recognize the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) decision to suspend the consultative referendum, even though the decision is “illegitimate … we won’t stand outside the TSJ with government politicians to burn tires or throw stones at the National Guard like the Chavists.”

• The TSJ decision, Santana contends, is a provocation and shows that the Executive controls the Legislative and a great part of the TSJ.

 Santana suggests that on February 2 the democratic opposition will hold a symbolic “alternative referendum” in 2,000 places throughout Venezuela where "citizens can sign up for a recall referendum, a constituent assembly or any other legal instrument within the democratic path that will rid us of Chavez Frias."