Venezuela Court: Chavez Ruling Was Forged

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's high court late Monday denied ever ruling that President Hugo Chavez couldn't run if there are new elections, saying a statement purportedly from the court making that claim was a forgery.

The court said that someone rewrote a sentence of a ruling, which had been given to reporters earlier Monday. It said that the forgery read that the justices had decided that Chavez wouldn't be able to run if he were to lose a possible recall referendum later this year.

In a statement posted on its Web site late Monday, the court said that the ruling released to reporters was fraudulent, different from the one it actually approved.

The Supreme Court said it was investigating the incident and did not disclose the real ruling was or explain how it had been altered.

The ruling described as a forgery said Venezuela's Constitution made clear a president cannot seek re-election immediately after losing a recall referendum.

Some opposition leaders initially applauded the decision that later the court said was a fake. Venezuela's splintered opposition cannot agree on a candidate to challenge Chavez. Recent polls suggest Venezuela would vote 2 to 1 to oust Chavez in a referendum — but indicate he could win an election against several opposition candidates.

Opponents of Chavez turned in almost 3 million signatures earlier this month to demand a referendum on ending his presidency.

Foes accuse Chavez of trying to amass power, fueling class hatred, and alienating investment with "revolutionary" rhetoric. The president says an "oligarchy" bent on ousting a democratically elected leader has sabotaged his efforts to fight for the poor.

Fresh elections must be held if Chavez loses a referendum within the first four years of his presidency. If the vote occurs in the last two years, Venezuela's vice president would serve out the remainder of Chavez's term. He is halfway through his six-year term.

Chavez's opponents want the vote held by the end of the year, arguing it would help stabilize a country where polarization over Chavez's leftist policies provoked a botched 2002 military coup and a crippling general strike earlier this year.

Several hurdles stand in the way of the vote, including verifying signatures, updating voter rolls and designating hundreds of regional election authorities.

Chavez has vowed to challenge the legality of the petition, insisting many of the signatures are forged.

Some Chavez supporters are insisting that referendums on the terms of other elected officials be held before the presidential one. There are dozens of referendum petitions pending in Venezuela's National Elections Council and the constitution does not specify how to prioritize them.

But National Elections Council President Francisco Carrasquero has raised opposition hopes by saying the presidential referendum should be a priority.

Castro Closes Ranks With Friendly Leaders Mugabe, Chavez *** Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez — who faces his own headaches at home, where last week he announced new plans by opponents to topple him — joined Castro and in a fiery speech criticized leaders of powerful industrialized nations for promising grand solutions yet doing nothing to solve developing nations' grave environmental and financial problems.

"What they have done is absolutely insignificant given the gravity of the problem," Chavez said, blaming globalization and failed neoliberal economic policies. "Neoliberalism has been defeated," Chavez proclaimed to audience applause. "Now we're going to bury it, starting this century."

Chavez and Castro are strong political allies and close friends. Chavez thanked the Cuban leader for technological assistance that he said helped sharply reduce Venezuela's illiteracy rates. Chavez contends that an "oligarchy" bent on ousting a democratically elected leader has sabotaged his efforts to fight for the poor.

The 13 heads of state and government from Africa and the Caribbean attending the U.N. conference also included the presidents of Zimbabwe, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Mali and Namibia and the prime ministers of Lesotho, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Many of the Africa presidents in attendance hail from countries whose independence struggles were aided by Cuba in the 1980s and 1990s.

"Coming to Cuba is to come to a country where there are true friends of Africa," Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said. Mugabe is the target of widespread international criticism. Zimbabwe was suspended for a year from the decision-making councils of the Commonwealth of Britain and its former terrorities because of concerns about human rights and disputed presidential elections Mugabe narrowly won last year.***

a possible recall referendum later this year.

Why is this still being called a "possible" recall? From what I understand, the signatures are in and the Supreme Court has already ruled on this matter. And of course, Chavez gave his promises late last year that he would allow the recall to go on at the "appropriate time"...

By the way, CW, are you Venezuelan? I see you post articles regarding Venezuela quite often. I live in S. Florida and have quite a few friends who fled the conditions there, so always keep an eye on the situation there.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.