Venezuela Poll: 70% Blame Chavez For Unemployment

CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- A survey conducted last month showed 70% of Venezuelans blame President Hugo Chavez for increasing joblessness, local daily El Universal reported Tuesday, quoting economic analyst and pollster Datanalisis.

The lack of jobs was the biggest problem for 35.5% of the 1,000 surveyed in June, up from 26% in a similar poll last November, according to the report.

Unemployment is currently around 20%, compared with about 15% a year ago, as the government battles an enduring recession highlighted by the first quarter's 29% economic contraction.

The poll is bad news for Chavez who faces a recall vote after Aug. 19, the halfway point of his six-year term which runs through early 2007.

The left-leaning leader's critics fear he'll try to maintain his grip on power by delaying the vote until after Aug. 19, 2004. If he loses the referendum after that date, a vice president he appoints can finish out his term, instead of calling early elections.

Venezuelan National Guard troops protect Caracas Cathedral July 7, 2003, which was stoned by supporters of President Hugo Chavez while Catholics were mourning the death of Roman Catholic Cardinal Ignacio Velasco, a leading Church critic of Chavez. The Chavez militants called Velasco, who died July 6 and whose body lay in state in the cathedral, a 'coup plotter.' REUTERS/Howard Yanes

Ruling Party No-Show Blocks Effort to Remove Chavez *** CARACAS, Venezuela - A no-show by the ruling party forced the suspension of a congressional session that was supposed to pave the way for a possible referendum on Hugo Chavez's presidency.

Under a recent pact brokered by the Organization of American States, Venezuela's opposition may seek a referendum later this year on Chavez's mandate, which runs to 2007. The deal was part of efforts to end chronic unrest destabilizing this key oil supplier to the United States.

The accord urged the National Assembly to quickly appoint the elections council to organize the vote and committed the government to provide funding. But on Thursday, Chavez supporters_ who control just more than half of the National Assembly's 165 seats - didn't attend a congressional session to discuss the council appointments. Acting assembly president Ricardo Gutierrez said no debate can be held until 29 lawmakers from both sides return from a trip to the United States.

Cesar Perez, a member of the Copei Social Christian opposition party, accused the ruling party of trying to delay the process.***

Chavez Picks Ally Pushing Broadcasting Law as Venezuela Information Minister ***CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has named as his information minister a former military colleague who is proposing a television and radio broadcasting law that critics say will threaten press freedom.

"Jesse Chacon will be sworn in, probably tomorrow, as minister of communication and information," a government official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Chacon, a computer systems engineer and retired army lieutenant, took part with Chavez in a 1992 botched coup. Chavez won the 1998 presidential election, and Chacon was named two years ago to head the state telecommunications regulatory agency CONATEL.

As chief of CONATEL, which is responsible for monitoring television and radio broadcasting in Venezuela, Chacon is one of the architects of a proposed law that would prohibit broadcasting of sex and violence during most of the day and evening in order to protect children.

The proposed bill also forbids broadcasting events and statements that "incite disruption of public order."

Opponents of the populist president say the Radio and Television Social Responsibility law before parliament is an attempt to muzzle criticism of the government by private media controlled by the opposition.

Broadcasters who repeatedly broke these rules would face large fines or could have their licenses taken away.***

Venezuelan Opposition Fears 'Cubanization'The poor barrios of Caracas are the scene of a new pilot program aimed at improving health care for the poor. Cubans described as "volunteers" have moved into private homes, where they offer free consultations and medication, often in open competition with clinics run by the metropolitan authorities.

Alfredo Pena, mayor of metropolitan Caracas, is a fierce government opponent, who ironically depends for his financial resources on the central government. Caracas health officials say their budget has been cut by over 50 percent, with the result that their already over-burdened clinics are facing collapse. They suggest that this may be part of a plan to shift resources to the Cuban cooperation project.

Adding to the controversy are accusations that the Cubans are neither qualified to practice medicine nor familiar with modern pharmacology or treatment methods. There have been claims by Venezuelan doctors of serious malpractice that allegedly placed patients' lives in danger.

The Cuban personnel have not been required to validate their qualifications in Venezuela, and according to the president of the Venezuelan Medical Federation, Douglas Leon Natera, they are operating illegally.

President Chavez dedicated most of his regular Sunday radio and television show to denying these allegations. He added that the plan was to bring in a thousand Cuban doctors in all.

There have been similar complaints by the teachers' unions about the Cuban-designed literacy campaign. Over 70 Cuban teachers were brought in to train Venezuelans to use the audio-visual material.***

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