Chavez gets dictator146;s powers

Venezuela8217;s congress approved a law on Wednesday giving President Hugo Chavez power to enact sweeping laws by decree

Venezuela8217;s congress approved a law on Wednesday giving President Hugo Chavez power to enact sweeping laws by decree, giving him special powers for 18 months to transform 11 broadly defined areas, including the economy, energy and defence.

8220;The people of Venezuela, not just the National Assembly, are giving this enabling power to the president of the republic,8221; said congresswoman Iris Varela, addressing a crowd next to the National Assembly.

Chavez, who is beginning a fresh six-year term, says the legislation will be the start of a new era of 8220;maximum revolution8221; during which he will consolidate Venezuela8217;s transformation into a socialist society. His critics, however, are calling it a radical lurch toward authoritarianism by a leader with unchecked power.

The former paratroop commander has already said he will use the law to decree nationalisations of Venezuela8217;s largest telecommunications company and the electricity sector, slap new taxes on the rich and impose greater state control over the oil and natural gas industries.

The law will also allow Chavez to dictate unspecified measures to transform state institutions; reform banking, tax, insurance and financial regulations; decide on security and defence matters such as gun regulations and military organisation; and 8220;adapt8221; legislation to ensure 8220;equal distribution of wealth8221; as part of a new 8220;social and economic model.8221;

Chavez plans to reorganise regional territories and carry out reforms aimed at bringing 8220;power to the people8221; through thousands of newly formed Communal Councils, in which Venezuelans will have a say on increasing flow of state money on neighbourhood projects from public housing to road repaving.

Chavez8217;s opponents, however, argue the law dangerously concentrates power in the hands of single man. 8220;If you have all the power, why do you need more power?8221; said Luis Gonzalez, a high school teacher. 8220;We8217;re headed toward a dictatorship, disguised as a democracy.8221;

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Vice-President Jorge Rodriguez ridiculed the idea and argued democracy is flourishing. He thanked the National Assembly for providing 8220;gasoline8221; to start up the 8220;engine8221; of societal changes. 8220;Dictatorship is what there used to be,8221; Rodriguez said. 8220;We want to impose the dictatorship of a true democracy.8221;

Historian Ines Quintero said that with the new powers, Chavez will achieve a level of 8220;hegemony8221; unprecedented in Venezuela8217;s nearly five decades of democratic history.