Chavez to Rule by Decree
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has succeeded in persuading the National Assembly to give him power to legislate by decree for the next 18 months. Although he is a democratically elected president, this isn’t the way a democracy works.
He is expected to use his powers to nationalize certain companies, which would allow the country’s resources to benefit Venezuelans. It’s not yet known whether he’ll offer a market price for Electricidad de Venezuela, in which the U.S- based AES has a controlling stake or for CANTV, of which the U.S. company Verizon owns 28.5%. Some experts think he’ll drive a hard bargain, while others believe he’ll simply expropriate these and other companies.
But that’s not all. What has people worried is the ever growing sphere of his control. He has said he will not renew the license of RCTV, a television station that has aired criticism of the government. He believes the station is biased in favor of the U.S., however, his critics include members of his own party. Silencing dissident voices would strike a hard blow to civil liberties in Venezuela.