Venezuelan President to Sign Referendum Deal Next Week

<a href=www.voanews.com>VOA News 23 May 2003, 17:14 UTC

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez says he will sign a long-awaited deal with political opponents next week, opening the door to a referendum on Mr. Chavez's presidency.

Mr. Chavez made the announcement Friday in Cuzco, Peru, where he is meeting with other Latin American leaders for the annual Rio Group summit. The deal came in talks late Thursday, which included the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, Cesar Gaviria.

Last month, Mr. Gaviria brought the two sides close to an agreement, before Mr. Chavez rejected calls for international mediators in a future referendum.

Details on Friday's deal were not immediately available, but it is expected to allow for a vote on whether to allow Mr. Chavez to continue in power. Venezuela's constitution permits a recall referendum after the midpoint of a president's term, which comes on August 19th for Mr. Chavez.

Political opponents have been calling for Mr. Chavez to leave office, accusing him of leading the country toward economic ruin. Mr. Chavez has blamed the economic downturn on a two-month workers strike that ended earlier this year.