Santana's civil sector proposes (opposition) citizen consultation on single candidate

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, May 05, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Hot on the heels of opposition groups, Primero Justicia (PJ) and Proyecto Venezuela (PV), Alianza Civica (consisting of Elias Santana's Queremos Elegir, Movimiento 1.011 and Ciudadania Activa) have launched an appeal to Coordinadora Democratica (CD) to undertake a citizen consultation process to clear the air once and for all to see if a single candidacy to stand against President Hugo Chavez Frias is convenient or not. 

Santana is at pains to explain that the proposal is not a rapid answer to PV leader, Henrique Salas Romer's launching of his candidacy ... "it's exercising citizen power and the right to elections ... it still has to be discussed whether the outcome of the consultation is binding or not ... it will be a instrument to guide the CD decisions regarding single candidacy, re-election limitations and guidelines for a transition period." 

The self-proclaimed civil sector leader warns that President Chavez Frias is already on the campaign trail and the opposition must act quickly and efficiently. "Complaints that Chavez Frias doesn't want a recall referendum must stop now ... the government reads polls and is getting ready."

Launching a PR campaign called "Democratic Rule," Santana says it consists of 7 stages:

• Appointment of National Electoral College (CNE)
• Delivery of signatures requesting recall referendum on August 20
• Obtaining international tutelage
• Popular consultation
• Defining the problem of a single candidacy
• Convocation of presidential elections
• Installation of a transition government of national unity.