Chavez, who first won power a decade ago and is seeking a referendum on being allowed to run again for the second time in 14 months, is unlikely to take unpopular decisions to cope with a plummet in the OPEC nation's oil prices until after the vote.
"The referendum could be in February ... a date of February 15. It is already actually being evaluated technically (as a date)," he said on Sunday on his weekly TV show. Previously, authorities have said the vote would be in March or late February.
The opposition calls Chavez a dictator-in-the-making, but the Cuba ally and declared Bush administration enemy says he needs the constitution changed to be able to stand for office again in 2012 and to deepen his socialist "revolution."
Chavez narrowly lost a referendum that included the same change last year and risks weakening his presidency if he is defeated again.
