Marisabel Rodríguez, former wife of President Hugo Chávez, Thursday said it would be hard for the ruler to accept a likely defeat in a referendum next December 2 on his proposed changes to the Constitution, which include his indefinite reelection.

The former First Lady told Colombia Caracol Radio it would be "difficult for him (Chávez) to concede he has been overcome, especially because he has said he is going to smash the opposition."

Regarding the transparency of the vote, she said, "the most people cast their ballots the better, as abstention is the best friend of electoral frauds."

Rodríguez referred to the Bogota-Caracas diplomatic crisis that emerged following Colombia's Álvaro Uribe move to terminate Chávez' mediation in talks with the rebel FARC to swap a number of hostages for rebel troops.

"With all due respect, President Uribe should not have called for the Venezuelan President's mediation with the FARC. This is the result."

She added she never thought her former husband would react so harshly to her public statements against his proposed constitutional reform.

"He has sent me personal threats, but I am with God."