Caracas, Aug 10 (Prensa Latina) More than 80 percent of the grassroots
groups of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) have been set
up until today, Vice President Jorge Rodriguez said on Friday.

The Socialist Battalions are made up of more than 1.6 million people who
meet regularly to launch the party, called by President Hugo Chavez,
Rodriguez pointed out.

He added that 5.7 Venezuelans registered as candidates to join the new
party, which will unify more than 20 organizations that support Chavez's
socialist project.

The battalions, made up of up to 300 people each, must elect 18,890
speakers, who will choose 2,000 delegates who will participate in the
foundational congress, scheduled to begin in September and to last three
months.

Rodriguez recalled that Chavez's proposal is to build a political
organization from the roots, something that has never happened in Venezuela.

Asked by reporters about some left-wing parties' refusal to join the
PSUV, the vice president said that the overwhelming majority in the
parties' grassroots cells back the president.

Members of Patria para Todos, the Communist Party and Podemos, which
refused to back the PSUV, joined the party en masse, he noted.

According to Rodriguez, those who refuse to participate do not realize
about the historic process that has taught the Venezuelan people the
concepts of full democracy, socialism and decision making through debate
by the majority.

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