Poll shows opposition may lose elections if not united

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela´s Elecronic News Posted: Monday, March 31, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

According to a poll carried out by pollsters Consultores 2, President Hugo Chavez Frias may win a general election with 32% of the overall vote if opposition candidates run separately in any upcoming general election.

In the Consultores 21 model, if Primero Justicia leader Julio Borges and Miranda State Governor Enrique Mendoza both stood as opposition candidates they would each obtain around 14% of the vote, with rebel Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) executive Juan Fernandez coming in with 10% despite the fact he is not a politician.

The poll has carried out in several Venezuelan cities and involved a sample of 1,200 people. Of the people questioned, 53% said they didn't believe the President would still be in office at the end of his term in 2006, while 41% said he would still be in power.