HUGO CHÁVEZ JOINS SOCIALIST PARTY.

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Caracas, Venezuela. Today, President Hugo Chávez joined United Socialist Party (Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela, PSUV). This left-wing political party is under construction. As a single governing party, PSUV is to replace the twenty-four parties supporting Hugo Chávez.  Somehow, they have been difficult to harness. Thus, President Chávez has reminded them they have left him in the lurch. The assimilation into a single political organisation has come under fire from most unlikely places.  Old allies of President Chavez such as Communist Party of Venezuela (Partido Comunista de Venezuela, PCV), For Social Democracy (Podemos) and Fatherland for All (PPT) are unwilling to join in.  Some of their members holding governmental seats are to face a referendum that might expel them from power. Governor of Sucre state - Mr. Ramón Martínez - has come under fire for criticizing the formation of a single party. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> President Chavez has also asked PSUV critics and parties unable to dissolve to leave the governmental alliance, as he does not need them. This attitude has prompted quick responses from the opposition. They cry out Chávez is trying to impose not only a single party but also an uncritical thinking toward his policies.   PSUV will substitute the Fifth Republic Movement (Movimiento Quinta República, MVR).   MVR was the first political party in Venezuela to establish primary elections as its main method for selecting candidates. It started to dissolve in January 2007 to leave way to the PSUV. Up to June 3Venezuelans will be able to join PSUV or else.