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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Any post-Chavez government will walk tightrope with Venezuelan oil company |
| 2004-08-13 |
| CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug 13, 2004 (The Canadian Press via COMTEX) -- If President Hugo Chavez loses a bitterly contested weekend recall referendum on his rule, one of the biggest challenges for the opposition would be to stabilize labour relations within Venezuela's government-run oil company. An opposition government would have to work with Chavez loyalists currently running Petroleos de Venezuela, known as PDVSA, while appeasing almost 19,000 employees fired last year for participating in a crippling strike - many of whom have poured their energies into the recall effort and are desperate to get their jobs back. The situation in the world's No. 5 oil exporter could further upset global markets, where prices are already soaring to record highs of more than $46 a barrel. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #4 I hope she isn't down there in the middle of that mess. I get the feeling that Chavez expects to get recalled and intends to win the election itself. He has made the opposition work so hard to get to this point that it will make it interesting to see whether he has galvanized them into a block with enough cohesion to defeat him in the election. If he is ousted, the following presidency will be critical. A Latin American Gerald Ford is not what they need. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-08-14 12:26:21 AM |
| #3 Well, if they have the will to get rid of him, I will assume they will also work to reverse most or all of his machinations. I wish Anon4617 would visit, she has substantial insight she could offer - especially about the people and the mood. I guess we'll know in about 48 hours what the general direction will be. I'm sure it will be much longer, though, before the dust has settled. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-08-13 11:03:05 PM |
| #2 .com, like Venezuela's constitution, Chavez has made changes to PDVSA that will be difficult to reverse. Currently funds from PDVSA no longer go into the Central Bank they go directly into Chavez's Castro-inspired social spending programs. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-08-13 10:53:26 PM |
| #1 Not to stifle comments, but I have a special request: Anon4617 - Are you out there? I'd like to hear your roundup of thoughts on Chavez, the state Oil Co, & Venezuela. You know your stuff and I don't! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-08-13 5:59:00 PM |