Colombian supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez are organizing a
political movement and plan to have a candidate for the 2010
presidential election.
The Social Bolivarian Movement (MSB) says it already has the support of Senator for the Liberal Party and close ally of Chávez, Piedad Córdoba. The senator herself told newspaper El Espectador she does know about the movement and thinks the idea is “interesting”, but stresses she is part of the progressive socialists of the Liberal Party.
Apart from the support the ‘Chavistas’ say they receive from Piedad Córdoba, no well known political leaders are part of the group. The MSB says it now consists mostly of teachers, historians and people from within the cultural sector.
Their initial plan is to form a “committee of solidarity”, morally supporting the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and strengthening ties with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) of the Venezuelan President.
According to Congress President Hernan Andrade, the Chavistas are welcome if they want to speak before Congress, but adds he doesn’t see a great future for the socialists in Colombia since the use of South America’s liberator Simón Bolívar from the beginning has been used “by groups that combine all kinds of struggle and believe the armed way is a solution.”
The MSB members deny having clandestine aspitarions and do not like the use of weapons.
The group is awaiting political endorsement by the National Electoral Council that would allow them to bring forth candidates for elections.