Chavez Frias compares opposition to minor league baseball team

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela´s Electronic News Posted: Monday, May 12, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

President Hugo Chavez Frias has described the opposition as a poor baseball team. Speaking to supporters at a rally in Bolivar State, the President says the opposition, except for some honorable exceptions, is completely irrational.

"They now expect me to collect signatures for the recall referendum ... that takes the biscuit ... it's crazy ... let them sweat it out on the streets collecting signatures, if they can."

The President, he says, is obviously not the person most interested in pursuing a recall referendum ..." the same April 11 coupsters now want the government to collect signatures to throw out the government ... it's got that crazy."

Comparing the recall referendum to a ball game, Chavez Frias quips that if the opposition manage to train, draw up a team and move up one category, the government team will wait for them but if they fail to meet constitutional requirements, then there won't be any referendum ... "what are they waiting for? For me to convene a referendum for them?"