Venezuelan President Chavez requests special powers to enable emergency laws

Venezuelan President Chavez requests special powers to enable emergency laws

2010-12-15 08:29:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (BNO NEWS) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday requested the National Assembly to approve an "Enabling Law" that will grant him 'special powers' to enact laws without the need of their approval. The Assembly approved and the proposal is now awaiting a second vote.

Chavez requested the Enabling Law for a term of twelve months in order to enact 'urgent and necessary laws' to support the citizens as a result of the emergency left behind by devastating floods that killed around 40 people and left some 140,000 others homeless.

"The request was made by the President for twelve months in order to enact the body of legislations needed for the serious crisis," said Vice President Elias Jaua. "Once accepted, the first laws will be passed within the next fifteen days."

Heavy rains in Venezuela have left at least 140,000 people affected as well as severe infrastructure damages. With the Enabling Law, the Venezuelan government expects to help at least 100,000 people and provide economic aid to them.

This is the fourth time that Chavez requests special powers during his 12 years of mandate. The last time was in 2007 and the Enabling Law lasted for 18 months. But the opposition in Venezuela has criticized this request and said that this is an attempt to gain full control of the country and said he behaved as a dictator.

Chavez slammed the opposition and responded that if he really wanted to take advantage of the situation, he would have requested for a 20-year term, not 12 months. The Venezuelan leader plans to enact laws on housing, agriculture, food, infrastructure and economics.

"These measures are necessary as about 40 percent of the territory was affected by the heavy rains. There were a high number of roads destroyed as well as many agricultural fields. The impacts on the economy and life conditions were severe and new laws are needed to solve them," added Jaua.

With the approval of the National Assembly, the proposal now awaits a final vote which is expected later this week.

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