Venezuela Left Debates Single Party
President Hugo Chavez call to form a single progressive party in Venezuela originated debates with general support for the proposal, but reservations of some sectors.

Public exchanges and leaks of what happened behind closed doors confirmed the criteria of those who warned about the complexity of this step, which is necessary to make more organic the process of change Chavez has been heading since 1999.

The dilemma is that as the process has been presented, the existing parties must break up, giving their members freedom to join the Venezuelan United Socialist Party (PSUV), a provisional name for the political group.

The Communist Party, an organization founded over 75 years ago, called an Extraordinary Congress in March, 2007 and other organizations are preparing debates in their basic groups to find out members opinions.

Smaller organizations, other than the 24 that support Chavez, like the People s Electoral Movement and the Venezuelan People s Unity, announced their dissolution to give way to the PSUV, as well as the V Republica Movement, the country s largest party, with more than 4.3 million votes.

The reports say not even the traditional new-years eve parties have stopped the activity of several parties, faced with the important situation.

For Patria Para Todos party, its General Secretary Jose Albornoz said the whole organization, which according to versions has registered the more extensive debates in reference to the issue, should pay attention to and reflect on the call to unity.

In relation to the leadership of the new party, the National Assembly President Cecilia Flores said it will need to emerge from the base, as President Chavez proposed, and she ruled out existence of several government parties.