Venezuela Congress Moves Outdoors After Shoving Match (Update2)

June 6 (<a href=quote.bloomberg.com>Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's ruling majority moved congress outside to a sunny Caracas park, convening the legislature on folding chairs under a hastily erected canopy, after accusing opposition lawmakers of provoking fights in the assembly hall.

Representatives supporting President Hugo Chavez approved a change to congressional rules that will allow them to bypass an opposition-controlled committee that decides which laws reach the floor for a vote. Legislators from both parties began throwing paper and wrestled each other on live television two days ago after pro- government congressmen, who hold a slim majority, sought the change.

The coup-mongering opposition tried to sabotage congress so we couldn't pass laws,'' Chavez said during a televised speech. We're not going to let a technicality stop us from implementing the constitution.''

The congressional donnybrook may delay approval of a new elections board needed to hold a binding referendum on Chavez's rule later this year. Government and opposition leaders signed an agreement last week to let the board set the date of the referendum and allow international observers to monitor voting.

``It's quite clear that Chavez is intent on gaining power at all costs in all aspects of Venezuelan life,'' said Vitali Meschoulam, an analyst with political risk research company Eurasia Group in New York.

He has control of international reserves. He has control of PDVSA,'' the state-controlled oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, said Meschoulam. He's basically shut the opposition down by signing an agreement that says let's do what's in the constitution.''

Trading Accusations

Chavez's supporters said the opposition is obstructing legislation, such as a law that would regulate the media, from being passed. Opposition leaders said the majority illegally change procedural rules.

``If we have to, we'll have congress wherever, whenever,'' said National Assembly President Francisco Ameliach in a televised speech at the beginning of the session in El Calvario park.

Opposition congressmen met, without a quorum, at the capitol building, a few blocks from El Calvario.

This reform was made in the most vulgar way possible,'' said opposition congressman Rafael Rivero. This was legislative fraud.''

Chavez opponents agreed to a binding referendum after the August midpoint of his six-year term, following a two-month national strike that failed to force a vote on the president's rule in February.

Polls have indicated that Chavez, who was ousted by the military for two days last year during a failed coup attempt, would lose a referendum. After the strike crippled oil production and consumer spending, the economy fell 29 percent in the first quarter and unemployment rose to 20 percent.

Two Venezuelans died and at least 16 were injured last month after gunmen fired on two marches of Chavez opponents.