Chavez vows to defeat opposition's recall referendum

<a href=timesofindia.indiatimes.com>Times of India AP[ SATURDAY, APRIL 05, 2003 04:53:22 PM ]

CARACAS: President Hugo Chavez vowed on Friday to remain in power by rallying enough votes from supporters to defeat an opposition-sponsored recall referendum on his rule later this year.   We are going to defeat them once again!'' Chavez, a former paratroop commander who was elected in 1998 and re-elected two years later, told a crowd of supporters in western Zulia state. Unity, unity, unity!''   Opponents accuse Chavez of riding roughshod over democratic institutions and blame ill-defined economic policies for the nation's deepening recession. They are seeking a referendum on his presidency halfway into his six-year term, or August 19.   The constitution allows such a vote. But for it to succeed, more people must vote against Chavez than he received in his 2000 re-election, or 3.8 million votes.   Venezuela has more than 11 million registered voters.   Opposition groups claim to have collected more than the 2.5 million signatures required to petition for the referendum. The government says the signatures are invalid because a petition drive must begin after Aug. 19.   Faced with the threat posed by the initiative to oust him through the ballot box, Chavez has been criss-crossing this South American nation in recent weeks to drum up support for his ``revolutionary'' government.   The president is also urging supporters to organize initiatives for local referendums to remove opposition-aligned state governors, mayors, and lawmakers.   The same rules for the presidential recall referendum apply to referendums to remove other elected leaders from office. Acting governors, mayors and congressmen - all posts with four year terms - were elected in 2000, meaning they can be voted out of office too.   But no balloting can take place until Congress appoints a new National Elections Council, which is charged with organizing and overseeing referendums and elections. The process to name a new council is already underway.   Chavez's popularity ratings have plunged amid constant political and economic turmoil. But they are among the highest for Latin American leaders.   Chavez has said he would accept a referendum but is demanding that he be allowed to run in a new election if he loses. Opposition leaders argue the president is prohibited from running again if he is removed through a recall vote.   Recent local polls suggest leftist Chavez could win another election if the opposition fails to agree on a single candidate.