The government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's says it will survive the six-week-old strike - and rule until the end of its term in 2007.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said the government had no intention of holding early elections demanded by organizers of the strike that has crippled oil output and shipments by the world's fifth largest petroleum exporter.
The uncompromising stance dimmed hopes for a quick negotiated settlement to Venezuela's economic and political crisis, which has jolted world oil markets and stirred efforts by the international community to try to mediate a solution.
Mr Rangel said the government's objective was to rule until the end of the left-winger Chavez's term in early 2007, although he said the constitution allowed for a binding referendum on the presidential mandate after August 19th.
"We have no interest in Chavez leaving office," Mr Rangel said in a briefing to foreign correspondents.
"In conditions of violence, it is very difficult for a country to hold elections," he said.
The opposition, which has reinforced the strike that started on December 2 with almost daily street protests, is demanding Mr Chavez resign and call immediate elections.
"We are maintaining the civic strike," anti-Chavez union leader Mr Manuel Cova told reporters.
In a bid to break the deadlock, the United States and other countries are moving to set up a "friendly nations" group to back efforts by the Organization of American States to broker an agreement on elections.