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Venezuela Gov't, Opposition to Sign Deal***The negotiations began in November, seven months after a coup that briefly toppled Chavez and exposed Venezuela's deep divisions over the former paratrooper's leftist economic policies and irreverent rhetoric.

Chavez's first election in 1998 ended the 40-year stronghold of two traditional parties accused of squandering Venezuela's vast oil wealth and leaving 80 percent of the population in poverty. He then pushed through a new constitution that paved the way for his own re-election in 2000 and elections that gave his allies control of Congress.

Chavez said he was leading "social revolution" against corruption and inequality. Adversaries - business leaders, labor unions and the two traditional parties - accused him of grabbing power and ruining the economy with leftist policies. Months of unrest that followed the coup culminated in two-month strike to force Chavez's resignation. The strike collapsed in February, succeeding only in devastating the economy and costing Venezuela $6 billion. The economy shrank 29 percent in the first three months of 2003. Venezuela's leaderless and demoralized opposition is now trying to organize a referendum to remove Chavez from office. The constitution would allow one in August, the midpoint in his six-year term. The next scheduled elections are in 2006.

822 posted on 05/27/2003 11:05:00 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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Venezuela's quick recovery surprises experts - Chavez puts family in positions***Asdrúbal is not the first of the president's relatives to rise to prominence. Older brother Adan Chávez is director of the National Land Institute. Ex-wife Marisabel, before the split, was a delegate to the constituent assembly that rewrote the nation's constitution in 1999. And father Hugo Chávez de los Reyes is the governor of Barinas, the family's home state.***
823 posted on 05/29/2003 1:49:49 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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