Partido por la Victoria del Pueblo
Encyclopedia
The Partido por la Victoria del Pueblo or People's Victory Party (PVP) is a heterodox Marxist political party in Uruguay
.
When initially established, the party espoused both Guevarism
and anarchism
. Eventually it came to define itself as Marxist. The party is founded on a principle of opposition to a single-party state and to rejection of bureaucratisation. It supports cooperatives, self management, participatory democracy and the principle of human rights. The party is currently a member of the political coalition of Frente Amplio
.
(FAU) was founded. This organisation brought together anarchists who subscribed to the ideological and cultural tradition of worker and popular struggles. The organisation was influenced by immigration, especially of anarchists from Italy, Galicia and Catalonia who had been involved in the Spanish Civil War
(1936–1939) or (later) in the fight against Fascism and Nazism during World War II
(1939–1945).
In the period 1959 to 1960, when news of the Cuban Revolution
began to spread in Latin America, many in the FAU were sympathetic. Eventually this sympathy transformed into strong support as the revolution began to appear more communist in character. The work "Socialism and Man in Cuba" by Ernesto "Che" Guevara
became particularly influential.
In 1976, under intensified political repression, the house where the conference took place was dynamited. Within 18 months of the founding of the party, at least one member and most of the participants and delegates were kidnapped through Operation Condor
.
Though subject to fierce repression in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, the PVP continued operating underground and in 1980 joined the Frente Amplio
. During the elections of 1984 the RRP was outlawed and many of its militants and leaders went missing, were imprisoned, or went into exile.
The party participated in the re-organisation of the union movement through the Inter-Trade Workers and helped to establish the PIT-CNT.
Through the systematic reporting of human-rights violations and crimes committed by the civil-military dictatorship the PVP helped to clarify the history of injustices. In October 2009 a plebiscite in Uruguay voted for the abolition of the Law of Punitive Claim Expiration of State, a controversial constitutional law which was deemed contrary to international commitments assumed by Uruguay on Human Rights. The figure of Quinteros Tota, mother of the teacher Elena Quinteros - founder of the party, who was kidnapped from the Venezuelan Embassy in Uruguay and disappeared, became nationally known in recognition of her role in the pursuit of justice. Another case of importance was the one led by Sara Mendez, who was kidnapped and tortured by Orletti Automotive and Condor officials who seized her son Simon Riquelo, then only 20 days old.
Alongside its concern for continued activity, the PVP has developed a theoretical and practical programme for the establishment of forms of direct democracy at the municipal and national levels, the creation of popular networks, the struggle for the expansion of human rights, and an emphasis on the democratic struggle and popular participation of socialist radicals. the PVP is engaged in efforts to democratize the media and alternative media as part of its plan for a modern approach to citizenship and participation.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
.
When initially established, the party espoused both Guevarism
Guevarism
Guevarism is a theory of communist revolution and a military strategy of guerrilla warfare associated with Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, one of the leading figures of the Cuban Revolution...
and anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
. Eventually it came to define itself as Marxist. The party is founded on a principle of opposition to a single-party state and to rejection of bureaucratisation. It supports cooperatives, self management, participatory democracy and the principle of human rights. The party is currently a member of the political coalition of Frente Amplio
Broad Front (Uruguay)
The Broad Front is a Uruguayan left-wing coalition of political parties. It is led by Jorge Brovetto. Frente Amplio has close ties with PIT-CNT trade union and the cooperative housing movement.-History:...
.
Background
In 1956 the Uruguayan Anarchist FederationUruguayan Anarchist Federation
Federación Anarquista Uruguaya, commonly known as FAU or Uruguayan Anarchist Federation, is a Uruguayan anarchist organization founded in 1956. The FAU was created by anarchist militants to be a specifically anarchist organization. The FAU was the first organization to promote the organizational...
(FAU) was founded. This organisation brought together anarchists who subscribed to the ideological and cultural tradition of worker and popular struggles. The organisation was influenced by immigration, especially of anarchists from Italy, Galicia and Catalonia who had been involved in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
(1936–1939) or (later) in the fight against Fascism and Nazism during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(1939–1945).
In the period 1959 to 1960, when news of the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
began to spread in Latin America, many in the FAU were sympathetic. Eventually this sympathy transformed into strong support as the revolution began to appear more communist in character. The work "Socialism and Man in Cuba" by Ernesto "Che" Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
became particularly influential.
Foundation
The People's Victory Party (PVP) was founded in Buenos Aires in July 1975. The organization was formed over a period from the November 18, 1974 to July 1975, culminating in a founding conference.In 1976, under intensified political repression, the house where the conference took place was dynamited. Within 18 months of the founding of the party, at least one member and most of the participants and delegates were kidnapped through Operation Condor
Operation Condor
Operation Condor , was a campaign of political repression involving assassination and intelligence operations officially implemented in 1975 by the right-wing dictatorships of the Southern Cone of South America...
.
Clandestine activity
During the military dictatorship in Uruguay thousands went into exile in Argentina. Of those, a few hundred participated in the debates of the founding congress. This founding conference included members of the Uruguayan Anarchist Federation (FAU), Student Worker Resistance (ROE), Popular Revolutionary Organization 33 East (OPR-33) and others. The conference appointed Gerardo Gatti and León Duarte, who were then responsible for selecting the rest of an executive staff.Though subject to fierce repression in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, the PVP continued operating underground and in 1980 joined the Frente Amplio
Broad Front (Uruguay)
The Broad Front is a Uruguayan left-wing coalition of political parties. It is led by Jorge Brovetto. Frente Amplio has close ties with PIT-CNT trade union and the cooperative housing movement.-History:...
. During the elections of 1984 the RRP was outlawed and many of its militants and leaders went missing, were imprisoned, or went into exile.
The party participated in the re-organisation of the union movement through the Inter-Trade Workers and helped to establish the PIT-CNT.
Re-organisation
The PVP has been active in political debates on social issues and on the left. In particular it has been involved in efforts to develop the base structure of the Broad Front, the labor movement (PIT-CNT), student associations as FEUU, the co-operative movement (FUCVAM, for example) and many other community campaigns including neighborhood associations, healthcare campaigns and others.Through the systematic reporting of human-rights violations and crimes committed by the civil-military dictatorship the PVP helped to clarify the history of injustices. In October 2009 a plebiscite in Uruguay voted for the abolition of the Law of Punitive Claim Expiration of State, a controversial constitutional law which was deemed contrary to international commitments assumed by Uruguay on Human Rights. The figure of Quinteros Tota, mother of the teacher Elena Quinteros - founder of the party, who was kidnapped from the Venezuelan Embassy in Uruguay and disappeared, became nationally known in recognition of her role in the pursuit of justice. Another case of importance was the one led by Sara Mendez, who was kidnapped and tortured by Orletti Automotive and Condor officials who seized her son Simon Riquelo, then only 20 days old.
Alongside its concern for continued activity, the PVP has developed a theoretical and practical programme for the establishment of forms of direct democracy at the municipal and national levels, the creation of popular networks, the struggle for the expansion of human rights, and an emphasis on the democratic struggle and popular participation of socialist radicals. the PVP is engaged in efforts to democratize the media and alternative media as part of its plan for a modern approach to citizenship and participation.