Chávez popularity receding

<a href=www.falkland-malvinas.com>MercoSurPress Almost two thirds of Venezuelans would vote for President Hugo Chavez to abandon office if a referendum on his mandate takes place, according to a public opinion poll released last week in Caracas. Datanálisis, a respected private consulting Caracas company revealed that 64% of those interviewed in the whole of Venezuela during the first week of May would have voted against Mr. Chávez if the referendum had been organized for the last Sunday of May. Even with a technical error of plus/minus 3% the poll also indicated that former paratrooper and coup instigator Mr. Chávez has a 28,8% hardcore support which contrasts with 70% strong critics and miles away from the 80% popularity he mustered when the president was first elected four years ago. According to the Venezuela constitution which was reformed following Mr. Chávez initiative, a referendum can be called at the mid term of any elected official, including the President, and for Mr. Chávez this will happen as of August 19. A fortnight ago the Chávez administration and its fierce opponents who accuse him of wanting to install a Communist regime similar to the Cuban dictatorship, signed a peace understanding to pave the way for the referendum in an attempt to reduce the intensity of the political conflict that has virtually melted the oil rich Venezuelan economy. However the government has since accused opponents of “conspiring” and anticipated that the understanding does not guarantee the referendum, and anyhow the “timetable and convening process” must abide to law. These include a signatures petition of 20% of the electoral roll which must be presented to an Electoral Committee, that still has to be nominated by a Chavez dominated Congress. According to the poll 62,8% of those interviewed would sign the petition to terminate Mr. Chávez rule, but 29,8% also indicate that the government will impede the voting to proceed. Another 23% believes the government will do its utmost to delay the voting process and 10,5 that it will appeal to any form of fraud. In the opposite position 28,6% consider that Mr. Chávez will honour the voting process.