CARACAS: President Chavez said on Saturday that Venezuela does not need Spanish companies, warning that if Spain's right-wing party wins elections next year its companies would no longer be welcome.

"Spanish companies go away, we really don't need them," Chavez said during a news conference at the presidential palace.

Chavez said he hopes Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero wins March's general elections, because "with Zapatero it's possible to talk."

"If the right (Popular Party) wins again, forget about the Spaniards," he said, adding that Spanish businesses "would have to leave."

He said that includes Spanish-Argentine oil company Repsol YPF. "Repsol, which is here, would have to leave."

The sharp comments expanded on Chavez's threats to nationalize the Venezuelan subsidiaries of Spanish banks Banco Santander SA and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA if Spain's king does not apologize in a three-week-old spat.

King Juan Carlos on November 10 told Chavez to "shut up" during a summit meeting in Chile, where the Venezuelan leader had called Spain's former premier and Popular Party leader, Jose Maria Aznar, a "fascist."

Without offering details, Chavez said: "It's possible there may be contact in the coming days. 'Our Majesty' has sent some message."

Agencies

(China Daily 12/03/2007 page7)