Graffiti at a rally of workers in the electricity sector: "In the PSUV are the foundations that decide."
For now acquired more than a fight ... ( Photo: Seb )
Gonzalo Yet, like many grassroots activists, would have liked to see greater representation of comrades related to workers, peasants and what is called here "the revolution within the revolution." It is a demand that is increasingly felt in the popular movement against the inefficiency of the bureaucracy and, of often it involves corruption.
"The militants have directly elected their representatives in Congress, however, all these votes are not the same orientation. There are political differences among the delegates, differences in the rates to be followed by the Revolution, differences in the relationship between party and state, etc.., "Said Gonzalo, who is also co-founder of the website Alternative Information Aporrea.org .
must say that so far the party-state relationship has not really promoted the emergence of new political figures. Last May Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is also the president of the PSUV, announced a reorganization of the party by appointing the heads of departments regional. Result: the first vice-president of the party is none other than Cilia Flores, president of the National Assembly (Parliament). And among the six regional leaders, four are ministers in office.
So that's one of the major challenges of this congress, arrived to install a power struggle with the bureaucracy. "The party is still an enormous state apparatus", recognizes Gonzalo. But the organization also lacks intermediate structures, between the "patrols" (basic units recently reorganized and composed of 20 to 30 militants) and the regional, which makes it more difficult for middle management and does not facilitate communication between all of these patrols.
A Congress to the slide?
In January 2008, the PSUV had achieved its founding congress, which was the foundation of its democratic functioning. However, many questions remain unanswered at present. Gonzalo Gómez believes that the Congress in December will be the real founding congress of the party. "The 2008 conference has not been completed. The Constitution and the declaration of principles have been approved, but the party and its leadership do not understand these flows with maturity. We were in pre-election period and this has ensured that these proposals are found in a drawer, "he adds.
The functioning of the party will be the agenda, but activists also demand a clear definition of socialist project. Worker participation in company management, the need to break the structures of the bourgeois state and move towards a genuine people's power will also be on the table by some delegates. "The proposals of social movements must sent to the party, workers must also have a greater role in management and go to union demands political demands. There are steps that are done in this direction, "said Gonzalo.
Finally, the PSUV internal faults are only a reflection of the brakes which weigh on the process underway in Venezuela. Enquilosé by bureaucracy, he still the opportunity to advance, but must act quickly. Former Vice President José Vicente Rangel, recently alerted to an article published in the local press on "pessimism ahead dangerously." The title of his article: "Something is happening" ...
Note:
(1) Venezuela on "voting power" is a power in itself, in addition to the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial power of the citizen. The National Electoral Council (CNE) is responsible for organizing the elections not only conventional but also the internal elections of union and political organizations. Of these, the PSUV is the only one so far to have fulfilled this requirement for democracy yet recognized in the Constitution.
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Article forthcoming in the next issue of The Left and taken on Site NPA
On 15 November, the militants of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) were called to elect their delegates to the extraordinary congress to be held from November 21 to April 19, 2010. This conference comes at a key moment for the party but also for the Bolivarian process that confronts more and more the consequences of its bureaucracy.
Nearly 2.5 million PSUV militants were called upon to elect 772 delegates from among 1800 candidates, all overseen by the National Electoral Council (1) . "There is no doubt it was a great day democratic, "said Gonzalo Gomez, an activist of the PSUV delegates elected from the district of Caracas.
Gonzalo Yet, like many grassroots activists, would have liked to see greater representation of comrades related to workers, peasants and what is called here "the revolution within the revolution." It is a demand that is increasingly felt in the popular movement against the inefficiency of the bureaucracy and, of often it involves corruption.
"The militants have directly elected their representatives in Congress, however, all these votes are not the same orientation. There are political differences among the delegates, differences in the rates to be followed by the Revolution, differences in the relationship between party and state, etc.., "Said Gonzalo, who is also co-founder of the website Alternative Information Aporrea.org .
must say that so far the party-state relationship has not really promoted the emergence of new political figures. Last May Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is also the president of the PSUV, announced a reorganization of the party by appointing the heads of departments regional. Result: the first vice-president of the party is none other than Cilia Flores, president of the National Assembly (Parliament). And among the six regional leaders, four are ministers in office.
So that's one of the major challenges of this congress, arrived to install a power struggle with the bureaucracy. "The party is still an enormous state apparatus", recognizes Gonzalo. But the organization also lacks intermediate structures, between the "patrols" (basic units recently reorganized and composed of 20 to 30 militants) and the regional, which makes it more difficult for middle management and does not facilitate communication between all of these patrols.
A Congress to the slide?
In January 2008, the PSUV had achieved its founding congress, which was the foundation of its democratic functioning. However, many questions remain unanswered at present. Gonzalo Gómez believes that the Congress in December will be the real founding congress of the party. "The 2008 conference has not been completed. The Constitution and the declaration of principles have been approved, but the party and its leadership do not understand these flows with maturity. We were in pre-election period and this has ensured that these proposals are found in a drawer, "he adds.
The functioning of the party will be the agenda, but activists also demand a clear definition of socialist project. Worker participation in company management, the need to break the structures of the bourgeois state and move towards a genuine people's power will also be on the table by some delegates. "The proposals of social movements must sent to the party, workers must also have a greater role in management and go to union demands political demands. There are steps that are done in this direction, "said Gonzalo.
Finally, the PSUV internal faults are only a reflection of the brakes which weigh on the process underway in Venezuela. Enquilosé by bureaucracy, he still the opportunity to advance, but must act quickly. Former Vice President José Vicente Rangel, recently alerted to an article published in the local press on "pessimism ahead dangerously." The title of his article: "Something is happening" ...
Note:
(1) Venezuela on "voting power" is a power in itself, in addition to the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial power of the citizen. The National Electoral Council (CNE) is responsible for organizing the elections not only conventional but also the internal elections of union and political organizations. Of these, the PSUV is the only one so far to have fulfilled this requirement for democracy yet recognized in the Constitution.
------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------
Article forthcoming in the next issue of The Left and taken on Site NPA
