President Hugo Chavez reached the midpoint of his term Aug. 19 while his opponents continue to pursue a referendum to oust him from office. The National Assembly has been unable to agree on a new National Electoral Council so the Supreme Court has stated it would choose one. Political demonstrations with a high potential for violence are expected during this uncertain time and travelers should avoid any such gatherings. Most transportation and other services are back to normal but medical care, including emergency service, is increasingly hard to obtain, and all care must be paid for in advance. Foreign exchange restrictions remain in place and obtaining funds from abroad is difficult. Street crime remains high and airport robberies continue to be a problem.
