Venezuela Reform, United Party Side by Side

The forces supporting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are advancing towards two parallel fronts that express political upheaval in the country: the creation of a united party, and a constitutional reform.

According to Chavez, the establishment of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and the constitutional reform needed to consolidate the socialist transformation in the country should be ready by January 1, 2008.

These actions, which demonstrate the pace of the process of change conceived as Bolivarian Revolution, are supported by over five million people hoping to become members of the PSUV.

The organization has been provisionally designed in 14,000 battalions in charge of organizing a period of sessions, and the foundational congress, scheduled for October 20.

Both processes are being held amid actions plotted by a disunited, disoriented opposition.

Last week, Chavez once again called for his followers to be attentive to opposition efforts against the approval of the reform at a national referendum, and to hinder external pressures against the PSUV elections.