More than half Venezuelans at odds with PSUV, opposition parties

Political parties have not succeeded in increasing the number of people willing to identify with them, according to the latest omnibus survey of pollster Datanálisis, 51 percent of Venezuelans called themselves independent.

However, the number is still under a peak recorded in June 2002, when 66 percent of people refused to be labeled as a member or militant of any political organization.

In the first three quarters of 2008, the number of people identified either with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) or the organizations opposed to President Hugo Chávez increased. But in October-November, this trend reversed.

Last September, 47 percent of Venezuelans called themselves independent. After the election for state governors and mayors, this figure went up to 51 percent. The increase was to the detriment of PSUV, the people's support of which shrank from 28 percent to 23 percent.