Ad hoc committee attempts to untie knots blocking consensus on new CNE board

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

There seems to be no light in the tunnel for the conformation of the new National Electoral College (CNE) yet, as analysts suggest difficulties in both government and opposition camps. 

Chief of the many obstacles in the path of the new CNE is that there a too few posts for so many aspirants. Both government and opposition are reported to be mulling through lists of would-be board members ... "everyone wants the top job." 

Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) has not resolved an internal debate about supporting the aspirations of current CNE board member, Romulo Rangel. 

Some MVR members suggest that it would be wrong to give a cold shoulder to the only CNE board member (Rangel),  who opposed the consultative referendum at the height of the opposition national stoppage offensive. 

In the end, it all may boil down to an agreement between the government and Accion Democratica (AD) and Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS). 

The problem, according to one MVR source, is that both opposition parties are stalling on the issue and weighing possible political fallout.  Accion Democratica (AD) is basking in glory as the most popular opposition political party.  The key factor in the negotiations will be to find and agree by consensus on someone acceptable to both sides for the fifth board  post. 

The National Assembly (AN), meantime,  has accepted to set up an ad hoc committee to try and untangle the threads of discord and appoint the CNE board as soon as possible. 

The new initiative will consist of a committee integrating 11 deputies from the original appointments committee, and parliamentary leaders of groups not represented on the committee, such as Primero Justicia (PJ), Causa R, Solidaridad and Tranparencia Revolucionaria.