Caracas
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez this week vowed to block an attempt to force him into a recall election. An alliance of business and media groups has gathered 4 million signatures, enough to require a vote after Chavez reaches the midpoint in his six-year term this month. But lawmakers allied with Chavez are stalling the selection of a council to organize the election. Chavez is also challenging the petitions, saying the signatures were gathered too early. Opponents predict they will still succeed in forcing a vote this year. Surveys show that 69 percent of Venezuelans would vote against Chavez, a leftist firebrand accused of abusing his power. “They can’t impede this forever,” a pollster said.
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