Socialist militants and party membership

The following is a continuation of my translation of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela's 'Statutes'. See previous posts for the rest of the PSUV's Red Book to date.

Chapter 2.  On militants

Translated by Owen Richards

Article 6: Characteristics of militants

Every militant of the United Socialist Party Of Venezuela (PSUV) is a socialist, Bolivarian, anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist, internationalist, humanist, environmentalist and feminist; and should accept and practice the principles, programme and statutes of the party, and is therefore a militant of the hopes and dreams of the great majority, and guides his or her conduct by the following values:

• Socialist ethics and morality.

• Socialist education and self-education.

• Conscious discipline based on criticism and self-criticism.

• The practice of solidarity and love.

• The consciousness of social duty.

• The struggle against corruption and bureaucratism.

Article 7: A militant of the United Socialist Party Of Venezuela:

Is any person above 15 years of age who voluntarily joins the PSUV and is admitted by the appropriate body, and who accepts and defends the statutes, declaration of principles, and the program of the party.

Article 8: The rights of militants

Every militant has the right to:

1.  Participate in the Socialist Patrols and any other party-defined base unit of organisation with full speaking and voting rights.

2.  Nominate and be nominated to the various leadership bodies of the party and to positions of popular election.

3.  Raise ideas, projects and programmes with the various leadership bodies of the party.

4.  Make reasonable criticisms only within party bodies.

5.  Activate and participate with communities in the strengthening of popular power and in social movements or fronts.

6.  To take—alongside the people—social control of the various organs of popular power and the revolutionary government.