New Assembly Arrives without Powers

Tomorrow will be replaced the Venezuelan deputies which were elected in September, the new assembly will have 98 members from “Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela,” led by Chavez, and 67 opponents. Before the opposition had any representative in the assembly, because they did not participate in the previous elections.

In early December, the outgoing National Assembly approved more than 20 new laws or amendments to laws, including the Education law, which promotes the “creation of a socialist model” in universities, more control over the media, and the organic law of popular power, among others. The law that most disturbs to the new assembly is the decree that gives Chávez special powers to legislate by decree 18 months.

“It will be a National Assembly with its wings cut, because it do not have an important legislative functions in 18 months because they are reserved for the president, nor may it be an organ of executive control, ” said Federico Welsch, a professor at Universidad Simón Bolívar.

Source: AFP-EFE