Opposition trying to 'deceive' Venezuelans: ruling party VP Vice president of the ruling PSUV party Jorge Rodriguez on Monday said Venezuela's opposition is trying to "deceive" the public into thinking the mechanism for a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro has been set in motion, which he calls "absolutely false." Meanwhile the opposition said it had presented 1.85 million signatures -- more than nine times the number needed to launch the referendum process -- to the National Electoral Board. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES