NewsMax.com Wires
Thursday, June 3, 2004

National Elections Council director Jorge Rodriguez said that based upon a count of roughly 40 percent of voter signatures, Chavez's opponents will have gathered 2.56 million signatures when the counting is completed. That would surpass the 2.43 million signatures, 20 percent of the electorate, required to demand the referendum.

Rodriguez did not say when final results would be released and did not announce a date for a referendum.

Thursday's announcement came after months of wrangling over the recall petition, first submitted in December. Venezuelans are likely to face an election campaign that is likely to further polarize the world's No. 5 oil exporter.

For a recall to succeed, more citizens would have to vote against Chavez than the 3.76 million people who re-elected him in 2000 to a six-year term.

Opponents of the leftist Chavez accuse the former paratroop commander of gradually imposing an authoritarian government. Supporters applaud his far-reaching social programs for Venezuela's poor majority.

Both sides had accused each other of cheating during the petition process. Chavez said earlier this week that he would abide by any ruling by the elections council.

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