By Barry Healy & Annolies Truman, Caracas
November 22, 2008 -- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez called for a “revolution within the revolution” at an 8000 strong United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) rally here on November 18.
Chavez called upon the PSUV ranks to hold successful PSUV candidates to
account if they failed to act in the interests of the people after the
election.
The rally was organised to inspire PSUV organisers and local
committee members in the lead-up to the vote for state governors and
local government positions on November 23. Poliedro Stadium, on the edge of Caracas, was a sea of red T-shirts
and banners, and echoed with energetic revolutionary singing and
chanting.
Contingents of local PSUV battalions and international solidarity
groups from Argentina, Peru and Australia listened to Jorge Rodriguez,
PSUV candidate for mayor of the Caracas municipality of Liberatador,
and candidate for mayor of Greater Caracas, Aristobulo Isturiz.
Rodriguez was Venezuelan vice-president during 2007, while Isturiz is a former education minister.