Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez could run for immediate re-election if he loses an upcoming referendum engineered by opponents who want to vote him out of office, his foreign minister said today.
"Nothing prevents President Chavez, in the case of his losing the referendum - which is a hypothetical situation, from running again," Mr Jesus Perez, said during a meeting of the Organisation of American States.
Venezuela's National Electoral Council was expected to announce later on Tuesday on what date in August the recall vote will be held. Under the constitution, if Mr Chavez loses a referendum held before August 19th, elections for a new president should take place within 30 days.
Mr Perez said he expected Mr Chavez to win the referendum and hold on to the presidency of the world's fifth largest oil exporter until the next scheduled elections at the end of 2006.
But despite his assertion that the left-wing leader could immediately stand again if he lost the referendum, Article 233 of Venezuela's constitution talks of a "new President" being elected and taking office if the incumbent is recalled.
Mr Chavez's opponents say this means that if he is defeated in the referendum he cannot immediately run again. But his supporters say he can and want clarification from the Supreme Court, which will have to rule on the point.