Monsignor Roberto Lückert, the vice-president of the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference (CEV), Tuesday said President Hugo Chávez is making efforts to have his proposed changes to the Constitution approved in a referendum next December 2 "at any cost."

The bishop of Coro, northwestern Falcón state, added that the Venezuelan ruler enjoys people's support because he has a "checkbook of petrodollars."
 
Chávez "is trying to win in every possible way, but the avalanche of votes (rejecting his reform) will be so huge, he will have trouble cheating as he has always done," Lückert told Colombian Caracol Radio.

Lückert referred to a likely defeat of Chávez in the referendum on his proposed constitutional reform, which touches sensitive issues such as indefinite presidential reelection, private property, and information, Efe reported.