Chavez calls pro-referendum signatures mega-fraud
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President Hugo Chavez speaks to supporters at a rally commemorating the fifth anniversary of his first presidential election on Saturday.
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CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned electoral authorities Sunday he would not accept a referendum on his rule if they approved what he said were fraudulent opposition signatures seeking such a vote.
Speaking during his weekly television and radio broadcast "Hello President", Chavez demanded that he be allowed to personally count the signatures "one by one".
It was the leftist president's bluntest warning that he would seek to block efforts to secure a constitutional referendum on his rule.
The opposition says it has gathered enough signatures to trigger a vote but Chavez insists the petition is riddled with false signatures.
Referring to Venezuela's National Electoral Council as "the referee," Chavez said: "If the referee comes along and, let's say, recognizes these signatures, then we can't play can we?"
"In that unlikely case, there couldn't be any electoral process in Venezuela and of course this government wouldn't recognize it at all."
Opposition leaders have voiced fears that Chavez may try to avoid a referendum, either through legal challenges or maneuvers, or ultimately, through force. But they hope international pressure will stop this from happening.
Chavez, who led several thousand supporters Saturday in a rally to celebrate five years in power, repeated a charge that the 3.6 million pro-referendum signatures, which his foes say they collected a week ago, were a "mega-fraud."
His opponents, who say Chavez has opened political and social wounds that are tearing the nation apart, will formally deliver the pro-referendum signatures next week.
Barrage of accusations
Brandishing what he said were lists of thousands of fraudulent signatures, Chavez repeated accusations that the petition had been packed with he names of foreigners, under-age minors and dead people. He also said many people had illegally signed more than once.
Government leaders say the opposition only collected 1.9 million signatures, well short of the 2.4 million required to trigger a vote.
The accusations place heavy pressure on the National Electoral Council, which must decide in early January whether or not to hold a referendum in April or May.
Chavez demanded that electoral authorities provide him with a certified list of the identities on the pro-referendum petition. "We're going to check them one by one," he said.
He denied he was trying to intimidate the electoral authorities, saying: "You have my respect and support."
But his remarks were likely to trigger alarm in international bodies like the Organization of American States and the Atlanta-based Carter Center, which are monitoring Venezuela's referendum process.
OAS chief Cesar Gaviria has said his observers saw no sign of widespread cheating in the November 28-December 1 pro-referendum signature drive, a comment which earned him a rebuke from Chavez who accused him of siding with his foes.
The OAS, the Carter Center, and the United States, the biggest buyer of Venezuela's oil, have all said they have faith in the electoral council and have urged the government and the opposition to accept its final decision.
Copyright 2003
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
