Say Anything Blog

A challenge for our left-leaning regulars. Read this article and point out what of this is good for the people of Venezuela.

Chavez to be granted new powers
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
Critics say Mr Chavez is gathering powers in his own hands
Venezuela’s assembly is holding an extraordinary session in the main square of Caracas which is expected to grant special powers to the president.

If passed, Hugo Chavez will be able to rule by decree for the next 18 months.

His planned reforms would affect the energy sector, telecommunications, the economy and defence, among others.

Mr Chavez has said the legislation will transform the country into a socialist society. Opponents describe the new law as an abuse of power.

Commanding position

It is expected that President Chavez will, in effect, nationalise the oil and gas industries, taking a majority share in their ownership.

That would involve companies like Exxon, BP and Chevron.

It is not certain what, if any, form of compensation those companies might receive.

Mr Chavez has popular support after his re-election victory last year, the assembly is on his side after the opposition boycotted parliamentary elections in 2005, and Venezuela is reaping huge revenues from high oil prices.

He wants to scrap presidential term limits and rewrite the constitution to build what he calls “socialism for the 21st Century”.

Officials say he has no intention of turning Venezuela into a communist state, arguing that freedom of speech and religion will all be safe.

But the US has again been critical of his leadership.

John Negroponte told a hearing to confirm his position as the new deputy secretary of state that Mr Chavez has not been a “constructive force in the hemisphere”.

“He has been trying to export his kind of radical populism and I think that his behaviour is threatening to democracies in the region,” Mr Negroponte said.

Can you say “El Presidento” for live?

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