Venezuela oil woes hurt Chavez ahead of vote

CIUDAD OJEDA, Venezuela (Reuters) – Thousands of Venezuelan oil workers have been laid off or are going without pay as oil prices tumble, hurting President Hugo Chavez’s chances of winning a reelection referendum on Sunday.

Oil projects have shed employees and wages are backed up by as much as six months as collapsing prices have left the OPEC nation struggling to meet obligations, frustrating even some oil workers loyal to Chavez.

The discontent could hurt Chavez in a tight vote on lifting a two-term limit on presidents that would allow him to stay in power for as long as he keeps winning elections. Polls show the self-styled revolutionary probably has a slim lead.

“It’s outrageous that workers haven’t been paid,” said Jose Marcano, who works in this sweltering oil city on the shores of oil-rich Lake Maracaibo. “I believe in the revolution, but I think oil workers are going to vote ‘No’ in protest.”

These workers are the first to feel the impact of the oil price plunge that will likely slow Venezuela’s economy and may dampen support for Chavez — a reality that appeared to push him to hold the vote as early in the year as possible.

Reuters