CARACAS, Thursday March 10, 2005 | Update
Carlos Berrizbeitia, a parliamentarian for opposition Proyecto
Venezuela party, plans to propose holding a referendum on the
sale of Citgo Petroleum Corporation, a subsidiary of the Venezuelan
state-run oil conglomerate Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa).
Berrizbeitia, who questions President Hugo Chávez' rationale
for selling Pdvsa refining arm in the United States as well
as a huge network of gas stations in this country, stated that
Citgo is a "Venezuelan asset" and, therefore, its sale is to
be left to Venezuelans to decide.
He claimed that if the National Assembly does not call for
a referendum on this subject, he would sponsor a signature
collection move to seek a popular consultation.
01:11 PM.
Economy.
Domestic inflation rate in Venezuela was 1.7 percent in January, at the same rate as in December 2009, despite currency devaluation at the start of the year decreed by President Hugo Chávez, a senior government source told Reuters on Tuesday.