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there was no reason not to call state wide meetings of the active
membership of the PSUV and even other organisations, to both elect
candidates and decide on campaigning platform, and strategy.
“Loyalty” to a person rather than to a program or to proposals
Two more words or slogans that have been thrown around a lot
during the PSUV campaigning, both at the state and national levels, are
“loyalty” and “discipline”. Yet the discipline doesn’t refer to good,
serious, revolutionary organisation, nor to waging a hard campaign, nor to
combating bureaucracy and corruption, but rather to unquestioning
support for the handpicked candidates.
Here in Merida, we were given Alexis Ramirez, a young geographer,
a local legislator, who in the last five years I have never seen in any of the
political marches or rallies or events, or even when Chavez spoke here a
few weeks before the presidential elections. There is also evidence that
Ramirez committed serious acts of corruption as a legislator, and it is felt
that he is largely a puppet and that there will be other people behind the
scenes, people we don’t know, governing for him.
One comrade said to me, “Those who don’t support Alexis
[Ramirez], are called traitors...I have to be “loyal” to Chavez by lying to
him and telling him his candidate is the best, no I can’t do that. This
electoral campaign has been about persecution and fear”.
The comrade said he will vote for Florencio Porras, the candidate the
PCV has put up. Porras, who was governor of Merida from 2000-2008 and
is “revolutionary light” (that is, a pro-Chavez reformist) will likely get a
significant vote, though he won’t win. PSUV members have stuck up
posters around the city calling Porras a traitor. One poster has modified the
PCV’s symbol, the red rooster, to be a rooster with crutches, labelled a
“gallo cojo” or lame rooster, a message that is disrespectful of people
with disabilities. Another PSUV poster shows Lester Rodriguez, the
opposition candidate, taking off a mask that is Porras’ face.
The PSUV communication committee has also posted graphics
around Facebook with quips such as “You say you’re more revolutionary
than me, but you’re campaigning for a candidate that’s not one of
Chavez’s?” and “In battle, division is betrayal”.