Venezuela's political crisis gets more serious by the day, as the political strike by the oil industry against President Hugo Chavez goes into its fourth week. It is an open struggle for power, with the object of removing him from office.
He has steadfastly refused to go, rallying support from the unpropertied masses who have supported him against the privileged groups involved in the oil industry and virtually the entire middle class of the country. He has constitutional right on his side, having survived a previous attempt to remove him last April and having been elected with an increased majority in 2000. But the longer this confrontation continues, the more it may be necessary to reach a settlement that could involve a compromise on another referendum.
Venezuela is the world's fifth largest oil producer and Mr Chavez has been a tireless activist for higher prices and better value from the industry since he came to power in 1998. He has alienated these privileged producers and workers, leading them to mount successive and increasingly determined attempts to get rid of him.
They have had significant international support - not least from the United States, which prematurely recognised last April's effective coup; on this occasion its representatives initially supported opposition calls for another presidential election, only to amend that to a call for an advisory referendum when they realised elections would be unconstitutional.
In fact elections are not due until 2006. This is what has forced the issue with Mr Chavez's opponents. They have hoped to capitalise on his growing unpopularity even with his own supporters over the last year, but have been outwitted by his ability to rally them in adversity. The crisis is deepening as the prospect of a US-led war against Iraq comes more on to the international agenda, affecting oil prices and creating greater uncertainty.
The new Brazilian president-elect, Mr Lula da Silva, has now sent his foreign policy adviser to Venezuela in an effort to broker a compromise with the help of the Organisation of American States. The constitution provides for an advisory referendum half way through the term. It could be brought forward in an effort to defuse this crisis, which has up to now defied settlement attempts. Growing shortages are affecting the whole country, and especially the least privileged.
Mr Chavez deserves support for his fight to stay in office and see off this privileged revolt.