Atmosphere tense around CNE

February 2, 2004

Opposition representatives were in Washington DC today to meet with OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria and US Government officials. The purpose of the trip, led by Manuel Cova, one of the leading figures of the opposition who is said to be the front runner as candidate in an election to replace Chavez after a possible recall, was to express their concern over what has happened at the Elctoral Council in the last few days. After a number of irregularities surfaced last week, Chavez revived his charges of fraud and said he would hold a nationiwde TV program to explain to the country how the fraud was perpetrated. So much for respect for the CNE.  CNE Director  Jorge Rodriguez, accepted there were irregularities in how the forms were processed and the unusual jump in forms under observation and said a few employees were removed. He did defend the CIO of the CNE, who the opposition had asked to be removed from his position. The CIO was said to be a member of Patria para Todos. Rodriguez defended him saying the charges were unfounded. The other CNE Director Ezequiel Zamora blamed the jump in froms under observation on the CIO himself. In theory, there are only ten days left for the CNE to announce if it accepts or not the opposition signatures requesting a recall referendum vote for Hugo Chavez.

This entry was posted on February 2, 2004 at 11:24 pm and is filed under Venezuela.

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