Venezuela Poll Shows Chavez Would Lose Vote, Universal Reports

Caracas, May 9 (<a href=quote.bloomberg.com>Bloomberg) -- About two-thirds of Venezuelans living in the capital, Caracas, would vote for the ouster of President Hugo Chavez if a binding referendum were held, El Universal reported, citing a poll by Mercanalisis.

The poll of 300 Caracas residents taken between April 21 and April 27 found 66 percent would vote for Chavez to leave office, while 16 percent would vote for him to remain. Thirteen percent gave no response and 4 percent said they wouldn't vote. No margin of error was given.

Seventy-five percent said they were opposed to the government's economic policies, while 19 percent said they supported them. Six percent gave no response. Caracas, a city of 4 million, accounts for about 16 percent of the country's population.

Venezuela's opposition has said it plans to seek a binding referendum on Chavez's presidency after Aug. 19 when the former paratrooper passes the halfway point of his term in office. Negotiations over holding the vote continue.

(EU 5/9 1-7) (To see El Universal's Web site, click on {EUDC })

Last Updated: May 9, 2003 08:57 EDT