MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Majority against President Chávez

If a revocatory referendum against Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is called, 62% of Venezuelans would vote against him, while 30% would support him according to a poll released this weekend in Caracas, the country's capital.

Venezuela is in the midst of a serious political crisis that has split the country in two clearly defined blocks, those who want to see Mr. Chavez ousted because they consider him responsible for the destruction of the oil rich economy and promoting "socialist-populist" inspired policies, and on the other hand his faithful supporters, mostly from the impoverished masses, for whom he has become an icon of hope and liberation.

The political crisis has included massive protests, general strikes, aborted coups, rioting with protestors killed and hundreds wounded, while the economy virtually came to a standstill following a several weeks' long oil workers stoppage.

Elected president Hugo Chávez admiration and closeness with Cuban president Fidel Castro has also irritated much of Venezuelan society.

The poll taken last May includes 2,000 interviews in all Venezuela and indicates that 71% of Venezuelans believe the crisis will eventually find a political solution. Another 19% believes Mr. Chavez will end his mandate in 2006; 3% that a Constitutional Assembly will be convened and for 2% a coup is inevitable.

The poll also indicated that 66% of Venezuelans consider the current situation "very bad", while 6% rate it as "good". A majority, 67%, also consider their personal economic situation "worse" than a year ago.

As to who is responsible for the current political and financial problems of Venezuela, 54% blame president Chavez; 19% the opposition and 15% big business and corporations contrary to Mr. Chavez and his popular policies.

The priority list of those interviewed was as follows: 36% the current economic crisis; 27% unemployment; 16% the political crisis; lack of law and order 15% and corruption 3%.

Cuban president Fidel Castro is believed to have "great" influence over Mr. Chavez for 54% of those interviewed; "some" influence 16%; "little" influence 7%; "none" 18% and 5% did not reply.

According to the Venezuelan Constitution as of next August 19, a referendum can be convened to decide whether the ruling elected president should stay or a new election held. Venezuelan opposition has been pressing for the referendum but Mr. Chavez majority in Congress has blocked the legal procedure and still has to complete the nomination of an independent Electoral Tribunal to oversee voting.

A special committee from the Organization of American States is mediating between opposition and President Chavez.