Chavez Opponents Shift Strategy for Early Elections as Strike Reaches 60th Day

santafenewmexican.com By JORGE RUEDA | Associated Press 01/31/2003

A man passes McDonald's restaurant in Caracas, Venezuela, during the ninth week of an opposition-led work stoppage that intends to oust President Hugo Chavez. - AP | Leslie Mazoch

CARACAS, Venezuela—As backing for a 60—day—old strike dwindled, government opponents asked for international support in their drive for an amendment shortening President Hugo Chavez's term.

Shopping malls, banks, franchises and schools plan to reopen next week, and production is creeping upward in the oil industry, where the walkout has been the most damaging.

Diplomats from six nations arrived in Caracas on Thursday to push for early elections, while opposition leaders who say Chavez has ruined the country promised a petition drive to amend the constitution.

Envoys from the United States, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Portugal and Spain - dubbed the "Group of Friends" - were to meet with Chavez and opposition leaders Friday. They also planned to attend negotiations sponsored by Cesar Gaviria, secretary-general of the Organization of American States.

Opponents were planning an afternoon march on the Melia hotel - where the diplomats are staying - to protest government investigations against two private television stations accused of supporting efforts to overthrow Chavez. The investigations could culminate in the shutdown of the stations.

Strike leader Manuel Cova of the Venezuelan Workers Confederation said Thursday a new presidential election could be held as early as March and should be done this year.

"To do this we need the guarantees of the international community," Cova said. "If we don't do it this year, we'll be in prison, or in exile, there won't be press freedom."

The opposition has proposed an amendment that would cut Chavez's term from six years to four and clear the way for presidential and congressional elections this year. The opposition plan also calls for a new elections council and a Supreme Court ruling to determine when a referendum on Chavez's rule can be held.

Under the proposal, Chavez and pro-government lawmakers could run for re-election. He has been president since 1999. Opposition groups are organizing a nationwide campaign on Feb. 2 to collect signatures for the amendment proposal. They need almost 2 million signatures from Venezuela's 12 million voters to hold a referendum on the amendment.

Government representatives at OAS-mediated negotiations haven't shown any sign they will consent to a plan cutting Chavez's term. Both sides recognize international mediation "is essential to open the path for negotiation," said Gaviria, who has tried to broker an end to the political tug-of-war since November. The strike began Dec. 2.

Chavez has welcomed the "Group of Friends" initiative, but he has warned others not to meddle in Venezuela's domestic affairs. He has also vowed not to strike a deal with an opposition he refers to as a "coup-plotting oligarchy." Chavez was briefly ousted in a failed April coup.

The standoff has devastated Venezuela's oil-dependent economy, though the government has revived production to about 1 million barrels a day. Output fell to about 200,000 barrels a day in December from the norm of 3 million.

Venezuela is the world's fifth largest oil exporter. Analysts predict the economy will shrink 25 percent this year after an 8 percent contraction last year.

Unemployment has reached 17 percent and is expected to rise. The government has slashed its 2003 budget by 10 percent from US$25 billion and announced it will cut the state-owned oil monopoly's budget from US$8 billion to US$2.7 billion.

Oil accounts for half of government income and 30 percent of Venezuela's US$100 billion gross domestic product.