Maduro wants special powers to rule using decrees

“I as president and head of state will call a national emergency in the fight against corruption and I will ask for special powers to go through a process of law reform and institutional change”, said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, at a public event held on a mandatory broadcast on national radio and television.

The proposal mirrors that of his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, who was known for creating laws that allowed him to issue decrees backed by law, without needing the approval of the National Assembly. “If I must change all the laws to tackle corruption, I will do so,” said Maduro.

For his part, Venezuelan opposition leader and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, accused Maduro of using the fight against corruption as a weapon of political persecution and alleged that in the government, including the president, there are the biggest corrupt members. “Maduro’s announcement is a smokescreen over the real problems of Venezuela,” added Capriles.