Weekly Report - 8 July 2003

The Venezuelan opposition would have liked a package version of the constitutionally available mandate-revocation (or recall) referendum, so they could vote out not only President Hugo Chávez but all of his régime, including pro-Chávez legislators, state governors and local authorities. 

This no longer seems possible. The Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE), has so far approved only three of the applications for referendums on whether the heads of municipal and regional governments should remain in office. The three are: for the governor of the state of Nuevo Esparta and the municipalities of Montalbán in the state of Carabobo, and Libertad in the state of Anzoátegui. 

The opposition had entertained plans to gather the signatures necessary to hold referendums on 53 leaders. Whether any referendums will be held will be a matter for the new CNE, which is currently being assembled by the national assembly (see above).