Venezuelan governing socialist party holds primary election today

uploaded by rahul May 31, 2008 at 10:06 pm
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Venezuelan governing socialist party holds primary election today by rahul

Caracas, Venezuela, 1 June 2008. Today, almost 6 million members of the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will go to ballots in their first primary elections. They will decide -among thier fellow party members - the official candidates for the November 23 local elections for Mayors and Governors. Even though its predessesor party - MVR- held the very first primary elections during Venezuelan democratic life, the newly born PSUV will attempt the electoral experience anew. PSUV was created just this year to overcome both revolt among alliance party and overcome defeat of the 2 November 2007 referendum for constitutional reform.

Now, the political forces backing President Hugo Chavez are collected under one single socialist tenant to promote his policies and further changes. However, party discipline has been very hard to achieve. President Chavez had to ban candidates from preforming early campaigns or self nominations for the posts. Those who felt they would not count on the party backing, have left the party or experienced expulsion. Furthermore, ideology differences run under the PSUV. The recent attempt to enact neo liberal regulations on official footage by Minister of Information and Communication, Andres Izarra, showed how fragile the socialist dogma and praxis in among its PSUV members. Military rightists and matured communists cohabit the PSUV with continuous muted clashes; there have even been a proposal for a future without Chavez.

This primary elections are rather important for Chavez himself. If PSUV is defeated and regains power at local level, opposition would push for a recall referendum by 2010. However, democratically elected PSUV candidates would confront electoral challenges from a briefly empowered opposition. After winning the November 2007 referendum, the opposition failed to organize itself. Furthermore, its candidates have not been elected by its grassroots in primary elections but appointed by its old fashion leaders or after negotiated consultations among few rivals.

Chavez made a call for the PSUV members to vote today massively. But after that electoral exercise, his top political aides and newly elected candidates would need to entice again a growing disenchanted electorate. Inefficiency and corruption are on the way as an unresolved and insurmountable obstacle. officials calls for revision have proved empty words. More than the opposition, the disenchanted electorate is the real challenge for the PSUV to win and secure Chavez a longer term in office.

Sources: VTV, YVKE, Venezuelanalysis, Telesur,Unionradio, El Universal,