Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- May 1, 2008

Speaking about expulsions from the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Miranda State Governor and party leader, Diosdado Cabello denies that there is any "purge," stating that each case must be studied separately. The PSUV leader comments that some people in the party are openly engaged in acts of indiscipline by making public statements ... "all these cases must be assessed in the party's political bureau." Although several cases have already been dealt with, Cabello confirms, there are more to come but the bureau will take into account the context and the place where the statements were made.

The Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) has announced a readjustment in interest rates, which will come into force today, May 1. The measure is aimed at "promoting stability and savings." The annual minimum rate has been lifted from 13% to 15% in savings and liquid active accounts. Fixed rate profits and shares have been raised from 14% to 17%. There have been no adjustments in loans which were set in February at 19% for the manufacturing sector and 14% for agriculture. Credit cards funding has been raised from 32% to 33%.

Rebel National Assembly deputy, Luis Tascon says he will create a new party called New Revolutionary Road (NCR) and at the moment is collecting signatures to register the party at the National Elections Council (CNE). The first members of the party are National Assembly (AN) deputy, Wilmer Perez, candidate to the Mayor's Office of Barinas, and Luis Diaz Salazar, who is running for the State Governorship of Monagas. All have been expelled from the governing PSUV. Tascon has announced that he is in conversations with fellow AN members, Pedro Bastidas (Aragua) and Miguel Rojas (Guarico) to set up a separate and alternative parliamentary faction. Bastidas and Rojas left the PSUV to join the Green Party.

President Chavez has increased the minimum salary 30% to coincide with celebrations of International Worker's Day in Venezuela. From today, the basic minimum salary will be (Bs.F) 799 bolivares for the public and private sector workers. Agrarian worker's minimum wage is finally now level with that of urban workers. Chavez has confirmed that he will decree a 30% rise to cover all public sector workers independently of salary levels. The new minimum wage in Venezuela, the President points out, will be the biggest in Latin America at around $372 a month, triple the Latin American average of $212.

President Chavez has called on workers to unite because he says imperialism will not rest in its attempt to stop the revolution. Both imperialism and the oligarchy, he adds, will not rest in their effort to stop the revolution and to overthrow the government. The President was speaking at a meeting to celebrate International Worker's Day at the Teresa Carreno Theatre in Caracas. The unity of the Venezuelan working class, Chavez urges, must be top priority ... "any other sentiment or aspect must be left aside ... this is absolutely fundamental at this historical moment."

The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) plenary chamber has ruled that there are sufficient merits to order for a preliminary hearing against Yaracuy State Governor Carlos Gimenez Colmenarez. On March 27, the Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Diaz introduced the petition against the PSUV State Governor, whom she accuses of alleged corruption. The TSJ will fix a date for a public hearing.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com