Caracas, Mar 9 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela's Socialist United Party (PSUV) will elect through secret vote its 15-member national leadership among 69 candidates.

Over 97,000 speakers appointed by over 7,000 battalions already elected statesman Hugo Chavez as president, and ret. General Alberto Muller as senior vice president. The rest will stem from some 20 progressive groups.

The polling stations all over the country (360) operate with the National Election Council electronic voting system to secure the turn out release short after closing at 16:00 hours.

In a first stage, five million people registred, aspiring to be members of the party, and some sources of the organization have estimated that it could accpet between two and three million members.

The candidates were community leaders, workers, students, ministers and other political leaders that made up a balanced membership with respect for gender.

The PSUV was an initiative of President Chavez who regards it as key step towards cementing the process of socialist changes he has been leading since 1999.

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