Government negotiating team electoral proposal stirs hornet’s nest

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Government negotiators have sent their opposition counterparts a document proposing that President Hugo Chavez be allowed to take part in the next presidential elections should he lose the recall referendum.

• The government side claims that there is no constitutional disposition prohibiting the proposal.

First reactions have come from opposition negotiating team legal adviser, Juan Manuel Rafalli, who says the proposal contradicts popular will and the spirit of the Constituent Assembly that discussed and voted in the Constitution.

“The Constitution talks clearly in Article 233 about a new President completing the recall period and discards the possibility of the President seeking a second term.”

Opposition constitutional lawyer, Gerard Blyde contends that if the President loses the recall referendum, the Executive Vice president will take over and a new election must be called within 30 days.

Former Supreme Court of Justice (CSE) magistrate, Hildegard Rondon de Sanso says President Chavez could run for President in the 2006-2012 period but not before.