President Hugo Chavez issued a warning Saturday to anyone planning to sign a referendum on his presidency, saying their names would be registered and remembered "forever."
| "We're makin' a list, and you're gonna be on it..." |
Venezuela's elections authority this week said the opposition could gather signatures supporting a recall referendum from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1. The constitution says a referendum request must be backed by signatures from at least 20 percent of the electorate. But Chavez warned: "Their names will be recorded forever... They should know that although they are not going to get (a referendum), their names will be recorded. Unlike in a vote, which is secret, they will sign. They will put their names and surnames, their national ID number and their fingerprint."
| That's the sort of thing dictators do... |
Once the signatures are verified, a recall referendum could be held about March. Chavez says his opponents will never succeed in calling a referendum, but insists he will win even if one is held. He stressed that the names of those who do sign will be recorded in history as trying to bring back past, corrupt governments that Chavez overthrew when he was elected in 1998. "Venezuelans are free. He who wants to sign may do so — we are not going to coerce them or pressure them," Chavez said.
Opponents have said Chavez is trying to intimidate Venezuelans so they will not vote against him.
|