CARACAS, March 14 (NNN-Prensa Latina): With over 3,900 candidates vying for 165 seats in the National Assembly, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has joined the fray at selecting key candidates to maintain parliamentary control.

The country’s president and the PSUV, Hugo Chávez, has called for a win of least two thirds of the seats to deepen the socialist approach of the changes that he has led since 1999, with an opposition that wants to regain some lost ground.

To win two-thirds, Chavez supporters must have 110 seats, a goal that local observers will depend largely on the candidates with influence on local factors sometimes beyond political and ideological positions.

According to the leader of the PSUV in Portuguesa state and former governor Antonio Munoz said it was necessary to choose men and women parliamentarians who are strong.

A fact to consider is that if the candidate has no roots in their constituency, there is a risk that Chavez supporters still not vote for the pretender, from personal or regional criteria.

In the search for greater unity with the Allies, the PSUV has decided to run its own candidates for the 113 deputies elected by roll call and leave the 165 who will be selected for negotiations with the Allies.

Among related organizations that may provide candidates are Communist party and Fatherland for All, among others, but sources indicated that the PSUV also may include persons who are not members of political groupings.

For Chavez and other political leaders, is key to the future of the country is to shut out the opposition, which is preparing to participate in elections after the mistake it made in the last elections when it withdrew its candidates.

Rather than dismiss the legislature, as sought by withdrawing their candidates, alongside the popular support for Chavez, the opposition provided the dominance in the National Assembly from the Socialists and their allies.

PSUV leaders have warned that now the opposition is seeking a majority in the National Assembly for a coup similar to what occurred in Honduras and oust Chavez.

The high number of auto-nominations in the PSUV is considered an expression of interest in this area causing the electoral process, while the opposition struggle with little success so far in achieving a common front.

Amid strong disputes between parties and candidates who have come to blows, the parties agreed to hold primary elections only 20 of the 87 constituencies, which is very far from the initial objective.

In the rest of the districts there is a melee fight almost to identify candidates, especially in regions that have more options considered.

Opposition sources believe that your floor (minimum gain) is in the 40 deputies, but sources said the PSUV the actual figure could be 30 to 35 deputies in total for the opposition.

When the fight is just beginning, what seems certain is that both sides attach key importance to the polls, which could point to increased participation compared to previous parliamentary elections.

-NNN-PRENSA LATINA

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