The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) is the first of the minority pro-government parties to respond to President Chavez' ultimatum yesterday. PCV general secretary, Oscar Figuera says he sees no problem if agreements cannot be reached with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) regarding unitary candidates for regional elections in November. Recalling President Chavez' own words when the latter suggested the creation of the Patriotic Alliance (AP), Figuera reminds people that the AP is not an electoral alliance but a strategic alliance and therefore, should not suffer if electoral agreements are not reached. The PCV is supporting its own candidates in five state governorships and claims that it hopes to advance in the revolutionary camp. Figuera did not respond to charges that AP parties are dividing the revolutionary camp by presenting their own candidates but insists that the PCV is acting on the premises set out by the leader of the process, Hugo Chavez and that its performance has been coherent in each historical moment and in the need to join forces towards creating a revolutionary popular movement of the left. The reply to President Chavez' ultimatum from Patria Para Todos (PPT) is that the party will accompany the President, whether he likes it or not because history has put both the President and the party to walk along the same route. PPT general secretary, Jose Albornoz reaffirms the alliance with parties that support the President but insists that his party is "co-author of the process." However, it would appear that the PPT will continue to support its own candidates in certain parts of the country.
PSUV vice president, General (ret.) Alberto Muller Rojas has confirmed that the party will attend a meeting today with parties belonging to the Patriotic Alliance (AP). Muller Rojas has highlighted the amplitude of President Chavez when he convoked all parties to a debate last year that led to changes and produced policies. The call, he continues, was answered by the majority of leaders of AP parties. The General comes from the PPT and so does Aristobulo Isturiz and Ali Rodriguez, while Roberto Hernandez left to PCV to join the PSUV. "We have attended the call and are debating internally our political positions, which in many cases are not harmonic and through the dialectic we are building a profile of Socialism that is applicable to Venezuela." The General hints that there will be no negotiation with cliques and that will be part of today's agenda. The PSUV, Muller Rojas insists, respects the will of the grass roots.
Opposition Primero Justicia (PJ) national coordinator, Julio Borges admits that there are difficulties in reaching agreement on unitary candidates in Merida, Bolivar, and Lara and states that the issue boils down to the level of civilization of each person, treatment between candidates and fair play. Borges says he has intervened in the fight between Andres Velasquez and Antonio Rojas Suarez in Bolivar State with the result that the latter has promised to abide by the rules of the game. In Merida, the two main candidates have agreed to abide by the results undertaken by two survey poll companies. In Lara, a poll was undertaken by a group of businessmen and the result is that Marisabel Rodriguez beats Alfredo Ramos by a point. As regards the political ban on Leopoldo Lopez, who aspires to the Metro Mayors Office, Borges argues that with a week to go before enrolment of candidacies, it is important to have an alternative candidate that is completely above board, even though the opposition is seeking to solve Lopez' problem.
Two candidates belonging to the opposition Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) are battling in a bitter and divisive campaign to become the official opposition candidate to the Chacao Mayor's Office. The ambitious Liliana Hernandez says her opponent, Emilio Grateron has broken a unity pact causing division and egotism in the ranks and she rejects survey polls shown by Grateron. However, the opposition electoral group, Sumate is preparing to intervene and use its good offices to solve the differences between the warring candidates before the enrolment deadline.
National Anti-Drugs Office (ONA) director, Colonel Nestor Luis Reverol says he does not want to answer queries regarding possible talks to renew anti-drugs cooperation with the USA. Reverol limited his statement to stating that it is President Chavez, who directs international relations and the ONA is awaiting instructions. The statement comes after President Chavez announced the possibility of renewing contacts with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The Colonel made the statement while attending the start of a training programme for judges and state attorneys to deal with the crime of money-laundering. Rivero did not indicate who is financing the training course but it is believed to be one of the foreign governments who have an agreement with the Venezuelan government to train officials in matters concerning proceeds from criminal activities of organized crime.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
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