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| A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) | |
|---|---|
| Name | A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) |
| Native name | Un Nuevo Tiempo |
| Colorcode | #1E90FF |
| Foundation | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Ciudad Bolívar, Caracas |
| Ideology | Social democracy, social liberalism |
| Position | Centre-left |
| International | Progressive Alliance |
A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) is a Venezuelan political party founded in 1999 that has positioned itself within the centre-left spectrum of Venezuelan politics, advocating social democratic and social liberal reforms. The party emerged in the context of the 1998 presidential election and the subsequent political realignments surrounding Hugo Chávez, Fifth Republic Movement, and the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution of 1999. Un Nuevo Tiempo became prominent in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela opposition through regional leadership, electoral candidacies, and participation in opposition coalitions such as the Democratic Unity Roundtable.
The party traces its origins to regional movements in Bolívar (state), with key founders linked to civic activism in Ciudad Bolívar and business sectors connected to the Orinoco River economy. During the early 2000s Un Nuevo Tiempo competed with parties like Acción Democrática, Copeymismo, and the Movimiento Quinta República for control of municipal and state offices. The party's regional strength was evident in gubernatorial contests in Bolívar (state), while national politics were dominated by clashes with administrations led by Hugo Chávez and later Nicolás Maduro. Un Nuevo Tiempo joined broader opposition efforts including the Mesa de la Unidad Democrática and later the Unión por la Democracia alignments, collaborating with figures such as Enrique Capriles, Leopoldo López, Henrique Capriles Radonski, and María Corina Machado in various electoral strategies.
Un Nuevo Tiempo articulates a platform rooted in social democracy and social liberalism, emphasizing welfare policies, market regulation, and institutional reform. Policy proposals by the party have addressed issues tied to the Bolivarian Revolution's impact on institutions like the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Venezuela), calls for judicial independence, and economic measures responding to the Venezuelan economic crisis and international sanctions by entities such as the United States Department of the Treasury and the European Union. The party has proposed decentralization measures involving municipal governments, reforms to the National Assembly (Venezuela), and protections for sectors including oil workers associated with the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. workforce and indigenous communities of the Guayana Region.
Un Nuevo Tiempo's internal structure comprises regional committees in states such as Zulia, Anzoátegui, Táchira, and Bolívar (state), as well as youth wings and municipal councils in cities like Maracaibo and Puerto Ordaz. Notable leaders have included regional governors, mayors, and deputies in the National Assembly (Venezuela), with public figures often interacting with international bodies such as the Organization of American States and political parties including Socialist International affiliates. Leadership changes have been influenced by local primaries, alliances with the Primero Justicia leadership, and coordination with opposition coordinators during presidential campaigns.
Electoral results for Un Nuevo Tiempo have varied across municipal, state, and legislative contests. The party won important mayoralties and governorships in regional elections, competing against the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and allied candidates from Movimiento al Socialismo. Nationally, Un Nuevo Tiempo contributed to opposition slates in presidential elections contested by candidates like Carlos Andrés Pérez-era figures and later challengers such as Henrique Capriles Radonski and María Corina Machado. Legislative representation shifted during cycles for the National Assembly (Venezuela) with coalition strategies in the 2015 and 2020 electoral periods affecting seat distributions and control over parliamentary commissions.
The party has played roles in broader opposition coalitions such as the Mesa de la Unidad Democrática and subsequent umbrella groups that negotiated with international mediators including representatives from the Norwegian Centre for Mediation and envoys tied to the European Union. Un Nuevo Tiempo has engaged with civil society organizations, labor unions linked to oil and mining sectors, and youth movements paralleling activism seen in the Protests in Venezuela (2014–2017). Alliances have sometimes included shared platforms with Acción Democrática, Primero Justicia, and Voluntad Popular to coordinate electoral tactics and international lobbying efforts directed at bodies such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Critics of Un Nuevo Tiempo have accused the party of opportunistic alliances, compromises with established political actors, and inconsistent stances during high-stakes negotiations involving the National Electoral Council (Venezuela). Internal disputes mirrored factional tensions seen in parties like Patria Para Todos and led to defections to movements aligned with Chavismo or hardline opposition factions. The party's role in contested primaries and cooperation with figures such as Enrique Capriles and Leopoldo López drew criticism from grassroots activists and commentators associated with the Movimiento Estudiantil.
Un Nuevo Tiempo has advocated for reengagement with multilateral organizations like the Organization of American States and constructive dialogues with governments affected by Venezuelan migration flows, including Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. The party has supported measures to address international sanctions by negotiating humanitarian exceptions with entities such as the United States Department of State and the European Union External Action Service, while calling for accountability mechanisms in line with recommendations from the United Nations Human Rights Council. Un Nuevo Tiempo's foreign-policy rhetoric emphasizes regional integration through frameworks like the Union of South American Nations and cooperation with democratic institutions across the Americas.
Category:Political parties in Venezuela Category:Social democratic parties Category:Political parties established in 1999