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Key Venezuela Recall Petition Rejected
yahoo.comnews ^ | September 12, 2003 | CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, AP

Posted on 09/12/2003 7:52:20 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

CARACAS, Venezuela - Election officials rejected a petition Friday signed by millions of Venezuelans calling for a referendum on Hugo Chavez's presidency, a major setback in opposition efforts to oust the leftist leader.

The petition was thrown out because the signatures were gathered before the midpoint of Chavez's term, an election rule violation, said National Elections Council President Francisco Carrasquero. The council is considered an impartial body by rival political groups.

Thousands of Chavez supporters outside the council headquarters cheered and pumped their fists upon learning of the decision. Dozens of National Guardsmen surrounded the building to keep order.

The decision dampened opposition chances of holding a vote by the end of the year. Many Chavez supporters believe that such a vote could now be put off indefinitely.

Opposition leaders vowed to launch a new signature drive Oct. 5.

"We are going to sign again for the millions of Venezuelans who are unemployed ... who live in extreme poverty ... who live in insecurity," said opposition Governor Enrique Mendoza.

It was another victory for Chavez in his long-standing power-struggle with traditional political leaders who accuse him of putting power ambitions before his self-proclaimed revolution to help Venezuela's majority poor.

The United States has expressed support for the referendum as a means of preventing more unrest in the world's top oil producing nations.

Divisions over Chavez's leftist policies provoked a failed April 2002 coup and two-month general strike earlier this year that helped plunge Venezuela's economy into its worst recession in history.

Chavez has frequently expressed confidence that that no referendum would be required this year. He had long insisted the opposition petition was invalid, citing the same reason the elections council used in tossing it out.

The council did not examine the signatures. Instead, the council said opposition leaders failed to meet several technical requirements for gathering them, from waiting until the midpoint in Chavez's term — Aug. 19 — to addressing the petition directly to the National Elections Council.

Venezuela's Constitution allows citizens to petition for a recall halfway through a president's six-year term. But the document is unclear about many details. The council promised to issue regulations on the referendum process next week.

Several opposition political parties and civic groups turned in 3.2 million signatures last month, claiming their own scrutiny determined at least 2.7 million were legitimate.

Leaders of Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party have expressed hope that if the process runs to 2004, Venezuela will be too preoccupied with regional elections to bother with the referendum. The next presidential elections are in 2006, though Chavez wouldn't relinquish power to his successor until 2007.

A former paratroop commander who led a failed coup in 1992, Chavez was first elected in 1998 in an overwhelming popular rejection of traditional political parties whose corruption resulted in decades of decline in living standards.

He was re-elected in 2000 after pushing through a new constitution that he promised would bring a revolution to bridge the gap between rich and power. Critics accused him of eliminating checks on his power.

Recent independent polls suggest Venezuelans would vote 2-1 to oust Chavez in a referendum, disappointed with his failure to create jobs and fight crime. Chavez insists his own polls show he has 70 percent approval ratings and that most Venezuelans blame a "coup-plotting" opposition for the country's problems.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: communism; hugochavez; latinamerica; latinamericalist; venezuela

1 posted on 09/12/2003 7:52:20 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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Hugo Chavez – Venezuela
2 posted on 09/12/2003 7:55:12 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
The petition was thrown out because the signatures were gathered before the midpoint of Chavez's term

I wonder if Chavez was startled to learn that the people felt so strongly about him, that they had little difficulty in deciding to sign the petition. Think he call for a vote of confidence? :) Best wishes.

3 posted on 09/12/2003 7:57:11 PM PDT by Pan_Yans Wife ("Life isn't fair. It's fairer than death, is all.")
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To: *Latin_America_List
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list
4 posted on 09/12/2003 8:12:07 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Send Daryl Issa and Ted Costa to Venezuela
5 posted on 09/12/2003 8:30:07 PM PDT by ambrose (Member of the McClintock Militia)
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To: ambrose; Cincinatus' Wife
Send Daryl Issa and Ted Costa to Venezuela

Send me.

6 posted on 09/12/2003 11:00:19 PM PDT by marron
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To: Pan_Yans Wife
If Chavez did have a moment of dismay, he has swiftly recovered. Jimmy Carter's visit to "negotiate" more credibility to Chavez and Chavez's own constitution, yes men in the government and judicary have frustrated all attempts to make him accountable to the voters.
7 posted on 09/13/2003 3:06:41 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I can guess Chavez' game plan:

Stave off recall effort until the next election cycle.
Rig elections to stack the assembly with at least 2/3 Chavez supporters.
Have the assembly rubber-stamp draconian power to Hugo Chavez.
When mass protests erupt, declare a state of emergency. Announce one-party rule and the suspension of most civil rights 'to save the Republic'.
Invite Fidel over for dinner to celebrate.

8 posted on 09/13/2003 3:52:53 AM PDT by ARepublicanForAllReasons
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To: ARepublicanForAllReasons
Invite Fidel over for dinner to celebrate.

Jimmy Carter can join them as he’d enjoy monitoring the “election.”


Venezuela's election board tossed out petitions demanding the recall of President Hugo Chavez, but opposition leaders vowed to collect the three million signatures all over again.le/Norberto Duarte)

Venezuela Gov't Steps Up Anti-Referendum Offensive (criminal investigations ordered)CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government on Wednesday stepped up its offensive against an opposition bid to hold a referendum on his rule, calling for a criminal investigation into a group that collected pro-vote signatures. This followed comments by left-winger Chavez in Cuba on Tuesday that he would not accept opposition signatures calling for a poll, even if they were approved as legitimate by the country's newly appointed National Electoral Council. The government's verbal and legal offensive against the referendum bid stoked fears of renewed conflict in the world's No. 5 oil exporter, which has been rocked by political feuding between Chavez's followers and foes. ***

9 posted on 09/13/2003 4:12:10 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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