| Country: | Venezuela |
| Movement for Socialism | |
| Native Name: | Movimiento al Socialismo |
| Founder: | Teodoro Petkoff |
| Leader: | Leopoldo Puchi |
| Foundation: | 1971 |
| Split: | Communist Party of Venezuela[1] |
| Position: | Centre-left to left-wing |
| Headquarters: | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Continental: | COPPPAL |
| Seats1 Title: | Seats in the Latin American Parliament |
| Seats2 Title: | Seats in the National Assembly |
| Seats3 Title: | Governors of States of Venezuela |
| Seats4 Title: | Mayors |
| Website: | http://www.masvenezuela.com.ve/ |
The Movement for Socialism (Spanish; Castilian: Movimiento al Socialismo, or Spanish; Castilian: '''MAS''') is a democratic socialist political party in Venezuela.
MAS was founded in 1971, with a view to emphasising a socialist message. Initially led by Teodoro Petkoff, its first congress was held on January 14, 1971. In 1988 another left-wing party, the Movement of the Revolutionary Left, merged with MAS.
In the 1970s to the 1990s, members of MAS hoped that the party would become the third largest political force, challenging the dominant Social Christian and Democratic Action parties. However, the party often won less than 5% of the vote. At the 1993 election it supported the National Convergence coalition which successfully backed Rafael Caldera, contributing 10.59% of the vote, a third of Caldera's total. At the parliamentary elections the same year it achieved a high-water mark of 5 Senators and 24 Deputies.
MAS initially supported the government of Hugo Chávez in 1998. Petkoff disagreed with this decision and left the party. Disagreements between MAS and Chávez subsequently emerged, and MAS joined the opposition.
In the legislative elections of 30 July 2000, the party won 21 out of 165 seats in the National Assembly. Its current leaders include Leopoldo Puchi, Felipe Mújica and Carlos Tablante.
In the period since 1989, when state governors have been directly elected, the party has won state governorships in Delta Amacuro, Lara, Portuguesa, Sucre (Ramón Martínez) and Zulia. Some of his past members included: Pompeyo Márquez, Rafael Guerra Ramos and Carlos Tablante.
Elections where MAS backed the winning candidate shown in bold
MAS is a member of Socialist International,[3] and a member of COPPPAL.[4]