Foreign Minister rules out support for constitutional amendment

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, January 31, 2003 - 2:50:54 AM By: Robert Rudnicki

Foreign (MRE) Minister Roy Chaderton Matos says that President Hugo Chavez Frias and his government will not accept a Coordinadora Democratica proposal for a constitutional amendment that would cut the President's term to four years from six years, which would allow early elections to take place, as under the current Constitution, the earliest a referendum can be held in mid-August, half way through the current term.

"Just because the government wants everything to happen constitutionally, doesn't mean we have to support the initiative."

Not only will the government not lend its support to the amendment, it will also not assist in activities necessary to bring the referendum about, such as the collection of signatures, of which in excess of 1.5 million are needed for the Constitution to be amended.

Opposition leaders have said they will propose the amendment during meetings with the Friends of Venezuela group which has now arrived in Caracas. However, before any vote can take place, a new National Electoral College (CNE) board will need to be appointed, which could take up to two months.