Venezuela: Chavez gets decree powers

Venezuelan lawmakers granted President Hugo Chavez broad powers Friday to enact laws by decree,undermining the clout of a new congress that takes office next month with a bigger opposition bloc.

Chavez opponents condemned the move as a power grab,saying the law gives him a blank check to rule without consulting lawmakers. The National Assembly approved the special powers for 18 months.

A new congress goes into session January 5 with an opposition contingent large enough to hinder approval of some types of major laws.

Chavez has argued he needs decree powers to fast-track funds to help the victims of recent floods and landslides,and also to hasten Venezuelas transition to a socialist state.

He taunted his opponents in a televised speech Friday night,saying now that he has decree powers they wont be able to block his laws.

You wont be able to make a single law,pitiyanquis, Chavez said,using one of his favorite insults,which refers to US collaborators and translates as little Yankees. Were going to see how you make laws now.

The Presidents critics have denounced the decree powers as one of many controversial measures being pushed through in the final weeks of a lame-duck congress.

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Another measure under discussion Friday was the revised Social Responsibility Law, which would impose broadcast-type regulations on the Internet and ban online messages that could incite or promote hatred, create anxiety in the population or disrespect public authorities.

The law granting Chavez decree powers 8211; for the fourth time in his nearly 12-year presidency 8211; also will allow him to unilaterally enact measures involving telecommunications,the banking system,information technology,the military,rural and urban land use and the countrys socio-economic system.

Among the planned decrees already announced,Chavez intends to increase the value-added tax,now 12 percent,to raise funds for coping with the disaster caused by weeks of heavy rains. The government is erecting tents to house thousands left homeless and is accelerating public housing construction. Critics accuse Chavez of taking advantage of the disaster to tighten his grip on power,saying he is violating the constitution while trying to impose a Cuba-style system.