Brazilian entrepreneurs asked the Brazilian Congress to stop Venezuela's entrance in the Mercosul, because of threat made by Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez. Earlier this week, during a public speech, Chavez warned he could nationalize (disappropriate) companies who decide to actively participate in the campaign against his constitutional reforms, which will be voted next Sunday.

Chavez made the threat after spokesman of Fedecámaras (Federation of Production Chambers and Associations), José Manuel González, asked the "Venezuelan society" to vote against Chávez's constitutional reform.

"We can't remain silent before Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez's threat, to confiscate the companies affiliated to Fedecámaras because of their opposition to the constitutional reform", says González in an official note released by the Brazilian Confederation of Trade and Business Associations (CACB).

The note adds that there are worries about the Venezuelan participation in the Mercosul.

CACB's president, Alencar Burti, asks the Congress and the Brazilian government to review the position of support Venezuela as member of the Mercosul, until the restrictions to freedom of expression and the pressures over those who speak against the government interests are eradicated.

Venezuela's entrance depends on the approval of Brazil and paraguay, because it has already been accepted by Uruguay and Argentina.

The president of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (the lower house), Arlindo Chinaglia, said last Monday (26) that Venezuela's membership in the Mercosul will be voted by the Chamber only in 2008, and that it isn't a priority anymore.

Sources (in Portuguese)