But Chavez, who was elected in 1998 and survived a military coup in April, has repeatedly said the constitution only allows for a binding referendum on his mandate in August 2003. Administration spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters that the United States backed a referendum for "the will of the people to be heard." But he did not specify a date.
"Everything we have called for is in the confines of the constitution of Venezuela. ... Early elections, in the sense that of course, there is a referenda that can be held earlier that is a reflection of the manifestation of the will of the people and this is the process that is anticipated in the Venezuelan constitution," Fleischer said. "The statement makes clear that it (the political crisis) should be resolved through political discourse and political dialogue, through the ballot box -- ballot boxes in Venezuela also include referenda." "We're not calling for the constitution to be amended," Fleischer added.
In April, when it looked like Chavez had been ousted, the White House appeared pleased that he had been toppled and was embarrassed when he was reinstated by loyalist officers. Despite Chavez's return, the country remains tense. Currently, opposition leaders, a loose alliance of political parties, unions and business leaders who blame Chavez for the nation's troubles, insist he resign and call elections. The opposition strike, which began on Dec. 2, has brought the oil industry to a standstill and sent Venezuelans rushing to stock up on food and gasoline. Banks are partly closed and many other businesses remain shuttered. The oil shutdown has cut off income to state coffers from petroleum exports, which account for about half of government revenues. Washington is worried about Venezuelan oil shipments since the strike has cut off some 14 percent of its energy imports at a time when it is considering a war against Iraq. [End]
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Chavez Blocking Vote on His Rule *** CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - During his campaign to dismantle a corrupt political system, Hugo Chavez's favorite tool was a popular referendum. Now, the president is infuriating opponents by snubbing a petition to hold a referendum on his rule. The drive for signatures gathered force at an eastern Caracas plaza that has been occupied for seven days by more than 100 dissident military officers and thousands of civilians demanding Chavez's ouster.
Opposition political parties say more than 1.2 million people, or 10 percent of registered voters, have signed - the number required by Venezuela's constitution to petition for a referendum on "matters of national importance." They plan to deliver the signatures next week, and want the vote held in December. Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel rebuffed the petition, insisting Monday "we can easily get 10, 15, 20 percent of the people to say that they are against the referendum."
Critics say that would be taking a page out the playbook of Chavez's good friend, Fidel Castro, who scorned a petitioning drive to hold a referendum for more civil liberties in Cuba earlier this year. Instead, Castro supported a counter-petition for a constitutional reform declaring the island's socialist system untouchable. Castro's government later claimed that 8.1 million of Cuba's 8.2 million eligible voters signed the "socialism forever" petition - a typically resounding return of 98.7 percent in favor. ***
Venezuela Election Body Agrees to Chavez Referendum *** CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's election authorities agreed early on Thursday to hold a nonbinding referendum in February demanded by the opposition on whether President Hugo Chavez should resign, an option dismissed by the populist leader who refuses to step down. The consultative vote, scheduled for Feb. 2, would not legally force Chavez from office. But his foes believe a decisive rejection would deliver a political defeat that could press the president into resigning and trigger elections in the world's fifth-largest oil exporter. Alfredo Avella, president of the National Electoral Council, said the institution that oversees elections and polls agreed to stage the popular referendum on the question of whether Chavez should resign immediately from office. ***
Venezuela Court Halts Vote on Chavez - Venezuelan President's Approval Below 30 Percent *** CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's Supreme Court put the brakes on opposition efforts to force a non-binding referendum on President Hugo Chavez's presidency, quashing a decision hours earlier by the electoral council to conduct the vote. The back-to-back decisions on Thursday threw Venezuela into political turmoil. Foes and supporters of Chavez held rival demonstrations, with police keeping them apart. Opposition leaders threatened a general strike on Monday to press for the non-binding vote on whether the president should resign. police keeping them apart. Opposition leaders threatened a general strike on Monday to press for the non-binding vote on whether the president should resign. ***