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Movement for Socialism Movimiento al Socialismo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Leopoldo Puchi |
| Founder | Teodoro Petkoff |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Split from | Communist Party of Venezuela[1] |
| Headquarters | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Ideology | Democratic socialism Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left toleft-wing |
| Continental affiliation | COPPPAL |
| International affiliation | Socialist International (formerly) |
| Seats in theLatin American Parliament | 0 / 12 |
| Seats in theNational Assembly | 0 / 277 |
| Governors of States of Venezuela | 0 / 23 |
| Mayors | 2 / 337 |
| Website | |
| http://www.masvenezuela.com.ve/ | |
TheMovement for Socialism (Spanish:Movimiento al Socialismo, orMAS) is ademocratic socialistpolitical party inVenezuela.
MAS was founded in 1971, with a view to emphasising asocialist message. Initially led byTeodoro Petkoff, its first congress was held on 14 January 1971. In 1988 anotherleft-wing party, theMovement of the Revolutionary Left, merged with MAS.
In the 1970s to the 1990s, members of MAS hoped that the party would become the third largest political force, challenging the dominantSocial Christian andDemocratic Action parties. However, the party often won less than 5% of the vote. At the1993 election it supported theNational Convergence coalition which successfully backedRafael Caldera, contributing 10.59% of the vote, a third of Caldera's total. At theparliamentary elections the same year it achieved a high-water mark of 5Senators and 24Deputies.
MAS initially supported the government ofHugo Chávez in 1998. Petkoff disagreed with this decision and left the party. Disagreements between MAS and Chávez subsequently emerged, and MAS joined the opposition.
In thelegislative elections of 30 July 2000, the party won 21 out of 165 seats in theNational Assembly. Its current leaders include Leopoldo Puchi, Felipe Mújica and Carlos Tablante.
In the period since 1989, when state governors have been directly elected, the party haswon state governorships inDelta Amacuro,Lara,Portuguesa,Sucre (Ramón Martínez) andZulia. Some of his past members included:Pompeyo Márquez,Rafael Guerra Ramos andCarlos Tablante.
Elections where MAS backed the winning candidate shown inbold
MAS is a member ofSocialist International,[3] and a member ofCOPPPAL.[4]
