Associated Press. 9 June 2001. Chavez Thanks Communist Party. CARACAS -- After a week of corruption allegations, President Hugo Chavez on Saturday thanked the Communist Party for supporting his "revolution" to end corruption and poverty in Venezuela. Chavez invited the Communist Party to form part of a new political movement to reinvigorate his so-called "democratic revolution," which has lost some fervor after six elections that created a new constitution and ousted a political class widely accused of squandering Venezuela's oil wealth. He has provided few details about the project, except to say it will organize "patriotic circles" to "defend the revolution." He denied media speculation that the new "Bolivian Revolutionary Movement" will replace his Fifth Republic Movement party. "We count on you comrades," Chavez told communist supporters. "The goal is clear: smash the conspiracy and promote the revolution." ...........................
