Chavez seeks special powers to deal with rain emergency

Tue, 14 Dec 2010

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday requested broad special powers to legislate by decree for a period of one year, in order to deal with an emergency caused by recent heavy rains.

The request was to be evaluated by the country's National Assembly, although it was all but certain that it would be granted, since Chavez supporters have a very large majority in the legislature. The chamber's decision was to be made Thursday.

Chavez argued that the government has to deal with more than 120,000 people who lost their homes due to rain in recent weeks and who are currently staying in shelters.

He argued that he will need, among other measures, an increase in the rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT), currently at 12 per cent, in order to create a fund for the mass construction of homes. Infrastructure also suffered serious damage, as did crops.

This is the fourth time Chavez has requested special powers since he came to power in 1999. His past requests were all granted.

The opposition has accused the left-wing populist Chavez of seeking only to take power away from a new incoming legislature. New legislators are to take office on January 5, with around 41 per cent of the seats held by the opposition.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/358171,powers-deal-rain-emergency.html.