Copei

Copei is a Christian democratic party in Venezuela. The acronym stands for Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente ("Political Electoral Independent Organization Committee"). The party sometimes uses the appendices Partido Social Cristiano ("Social Christian Party") or Partido Popular ("Popular Party"). It was founded on January 13, 1946, by Rafael Caldera, who later served as president under the party's banner. Copei, along with Democratic Action, was the dominant Venezuelan party from 1958 to 1998. The only other Copei member to become president of Venezuela was Luis Herrera Campins, between 1979 and 1983. The party's leaders were Lorenzo Fernández, Eduardo Fernández and Oswaldo Álvarez Paz.