By the end of November, he declared, the opposition should have a clearer idea of states where primary elections will be held or where agreements and pacts will be the chosen method.

Borges said President Chavez is betting everything on the parliamentary elections and seeking to divide the opposition. The opposition has organized unity round tables to accommodate a wide spectrum of political opponents of President Chavez. One of the main opposition figures, Leopoldo Lopez has yet to join.

The opposition alliance is a hybrid that will not last long, according to some observers, especially in provinces, such as Lara where recently former Communist and Causa R leader, Alfredo Ramos shared an award with local oligarch, Eduardo Gomez Sigala for their "struggle in defense of freedoms and social rights of Venezuelans."

In the government camp there is still uncertainty regarding alliances with smaller parties, such as Patria para Todos (PPT), despite President Chavez' call to the United Socialist Party Of Venezuela (PSUV) to open up talks with minority parties to set up alliances.

PSUV ideologue, General Alberto Muller Rojas has come against the move, alleging that a party obtaining 0.4% in the last elections cannot hope to be treated under the same conditions as a party that got 42% of the vote. Furthermore, he added, there are people inside PSUV coming from Causa R and PPT.

PPT secretary of organization, Rafael Uzcategui has announced that any talks will have to center around releasing PPT leader in the south-eastern region and former mayor of Sifontes municipality, Carlos Chancellor, who has spent several years in jail awaiting trial for alleged corruption. Uzcategui declared that the PPT is in constant dialogue with the PSUV on grassroots level and that there must be an end to what he calls persecution of PPT councilors.

Only the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) has escaped criticism on grounds of reverence, given its past history and links to the once powerful Soviet Union.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
news.editor@vheadline.com