Venezuela President Hugo Chavez initiated steps to consolidate his landslide re-election to move his nation towards a single party system through consolidation of loosely allied parties and concentrate more powers to himself. As part of his "revolutionary process" plan, the Fifth Republic Movement party was being dismantled and merged with the new Unified Socialist Party (USP). Additionally, to facilitate an easy government creation and "adjustments," Chavez asked his cabinet colleagues to resign.

Critics say that Chavez is emulating his mentor and former Cuban President Fidel Castro blindly-- similar measures were instituted in early 60s to create an iron grasp on the island nation. Opposition leaders charged him for being thirsty for more control furthering his agenda to aggrandize power. Further, some of the political parties that are part of the alliance worry about being left out of power and may singled out if they protest. However, most of the parties seem to support the effort to consolidate.

Most however were worried about the selection of leaders. The fear is that Chavez will stuff his Cabinet and powerful bureaucratic posts with his cronies and the selection will be not be representative of grass-root aspirations. Chavez dismissed these fears saying that Venezuela needs a government in "the service of the revolution and the people" and "not at the service of the political parties." He offered them a choice of not participating in the government.