President Chavez has called on United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) members to get organized and says he wants a strategic alliance with different social movements to obtain a resounding electoral victory on November 23. The President made the statement while presenting candidates to the state governorships and municipalities of Barinas, Lara, Apure and Cojedes. The President told followers that the counter-revolution must be prevented from gaining space. Chavez used the opportunity to lash out at renegade Barinas Mayor, Julio Caesar Reyes, branding him a "counterrevolutionary," "traitor" and "coward." Reyes is running as an independent candidate to the state governorship after refusing to recognize the leadership of Adan Chavez, official candidate of the PSUV. 200 representatives of the indigenous communal councils have met for a second time to support a reform of the indigenous communities and peoples law. Indigenous peoples deputy minister, Jorge Chalupa says the meeting is to spread the debate about the reform which, he promises, will guarantee social justice for indigenous peoples. Other indigenous groups are questioning some articles in the reform because of alleged dangers to indigenous common lands.
The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) says the Patriotic Alliance (AP) will continue to hold sessions, even though the majority PSUV party does not want to take part. PCV general secretary, Oscar Figuera made the statement during an act to celebrate 110 years of the birth of Gustavo Machado, leader of the Communist Party for many years. PCV members running for posts in municipalities agree that the AP is being built in the provinces. At the moment, the party is considering whether to support Manuel Arciniega, who lost the PSUV elections in Bolivar to current state governor Francisco Rangel Gomez.
President Chavez has called on minority parties belonging to the Patriotic Alliance (BP) to reach an agreement on candidates. The President insists that the PSUV does not seek a perfect agreement but asks for respect and loyalty to be shown by both sides. The President says he wants an alliance with minority parties, even though there are some things he doesn't understand about their attitude. Chavez maintains that he has always been in favor of giving greater participation to parties, such as PCV and the Patria Para Todos (PPT) in electoral processes, adding that there is plenty of space for smaller parties in the regional legislative councils. The President has made a commitment to meet political parties that want an alliance.
Chavez has also expressed concern to the PSUV about the low level of enrolment in the electoral register and the fact that there is only one month left before the deadline. According to the President, 3 million people new voters, mostly young people have not enrolled. The objective set the party is to enroll 1.7 or 2 million people by August 25.
Opposition pre-candidate to the Mayor's Office of Sucre in Caracas, William Ojeda has moved aside to recognize Primero Justicia (PJ) pre-candidate, Carlos Ocariz as the unitary candidate. Ojeda belongs to the Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party.
President Chavez held his Sunday radio address in Miraflores Palace to celebrate Children's Day. During the show, the President announced the creation of Mission Children of the Barrio. Chavez was informed that there were around 9,000 street children in 1998 and that in 2007 because of government programs the number has fallen to less than a thousand. The Participation & Social Protection Ministry provided the details. The new Mission will guarantee social inclusion and full exercise of children's rights and the priority will be programs for children facing the greatest social risk and vulnerability. Part of the program will entail re-launching a national program for the protection of working children.
According to the Participation & Social Protection Ministry, although Venezuelan law prohibits work for children younger than 14, a study shows that the average age of children starting work is between 8 and 10 years. The Ministry says the State must eradicate any form of exploitation of capital over child and teenager labor and guarantee the undertaking of economic activities that do not go against personal integrity and that comply with certain aspects of health and safety at work, a maximum six hour working day and the right to study and recreation.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
vheadline@gmail.com
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