(Venezuelanalysis.com) - "Seven recall referenda will be convoked this coming October, announced Electoral Council president Tibisay Lucena, following the tally of petitions for such referenda. The referenda will affect six Mayors and one state legislator.

Venezuelans had the opportunity to express their support for recall referenda for 167 elected officials. The National Electoral Council (CNE) had set up 1,570 signature collection centers throughout the country, at the request of a variety of civil society groups that sought recall referenda for mayors, governors, and state legislators. None of the country's main parties-opposition or pro-government-supported the effort.

For a petition to be successful, at least 20% of registered voters in the elected official's district had to indicate their support for a recall referendum by having their fingerprint scanned. Fingerprint scanners were used this time because of the large number of suspected fraudulent signatures that were submitted the last time a recall referenda were sought, in December 2006, against President Chávez and members of the National Assembly (...)

CNE President Lucena, though, denied that it was the CNE's responsibility to promote the petitions. The collection effort 'is not an event convoked by the electoral body, but by the promoters of the petitions, who had an interest in requesting referenda,' said Lucena. This is why 'the CNE had and has no need to publicize' the petition drive. 'The constitutional role of the CNE was to act as an administrator and facilitator of the process,' she added (...)

All sides criticized that the lack of a law governing referenda made organizing this process particularly difficult. Currently referenda are governed by rules the CNE has set up, even though it should be the legislature that develops the process. Lucena said that the CNE will develop and propose its own referendum law, which it will present to the National Assembly soon. Part of the problem is that there are no procedures in place for who would replace a recalled mayor.

While Lucena did not want to announce an exact date for the six recall referenda that will be convoked, she said that October is the most likely time. For a recall referendum to be successful, at least as many voters have to vote in favor of a recall as originally voted for them. Also, turn-out must be at least 25%".