Arias Cardenas sent to Coventry by the Union party he founded

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Former Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) leader and current Union Party president, Hugo D’Paola says the message that the opposition must spread abroad is that Venezuela is "living a dictatorship."

Reacting to the arrest of Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) president, Carlos Fernandez, D’Paola has hit out against Union Party founder, Lt. Colonel (ret.) Francisco Arias Cardenas and suggests that he may not be allowed back into the party.

“His attitudes have damaged the opposition because he has constantly criticized opposition groups for the current situation in the country.”

D’Paola says President Chavez Frias' former comrade-in-arms has not been attending party duties because of medical permission and may not be allowed back … “he must assume a more active and aggressive position against the administration if he wants in.”