Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro received authority to pass economic laws without congressional approval, a move the opposition says will increase the harassment of businesses and attacks on political rivals ahead of local elections.
The national assembly approved today the so-called enabling law by a three-fifths majority, allowing Maduro to enact laws, such as limits on profits, without the oversight of congress.
“It’s my responsibility to sign this to fight against corruption and speculation,” National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello said from congress in comments broadcast on state television.
“I sign this in Chavez’s name.” Maduro acquired for the first time the same power his late predecessor Hugo Chavez relied on for a third of his 14 years in office to nationalize companies, create taxes and increase labor rights.
Maduro said he will use decrees to protect the people from the “parasitic bourgeoisie,” which he accuses of hoarding goods and overcharging customers.
He will pass populist measures to regain support that has been eroded by the fastest inflation in the world ahead of the Dec. 8 vote, David Smilde, a sociology professor at the University of Georgia, said.
The government “is seeking once again scapegoats to blame for their own mistakes,” the opposition coalition, led by former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, said in an e-mailed statement.
“The government is trying to deviate attention from the serious economic crisis that is hurting Venezuela.”
The proportion of Venezuelans that perceive the economic situation as negative rose about 20 percentage points to 72 percent since April, Barclays PLC said in a Nov. 12 report, citing a Datanalisis poll taken from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2.The margin of error wasn’t provided.
Shortages
Inflation (VNVPIYOY) in Caracas soared to 54 percent in the 12 months through October, the fastest pace in 16 years. Lack of dollars has led to shortages of everything from flour to car parts in a country that imports 70 percent of the goods it consumes.
Maduro said yesterday he will initially use the law to impose profit margins across the economy. He said price regulators backed by military inspected more than 1,000 businesses, forcing 99 percent to lower prices.
“With the enabling law, no one will stop me from protecting the people from the speculators, the parasites, the thieves, the corrupt,” Maduro said Nov. 14. Venezuela’s army occupied this month an electronics chain to enforce price reductions ordered by Maduro.
He said Daka stores were overcharging customers by as much as 1,200 percent. The opposition coalition, known as MUD, voted against the enabling law it said will be used to criminalize opponents.
“Maduro can now put out laws behind closed doors, without consulting the opposition or his own coalition,” said Smilde.
“From a democratic perspective it’s undesirable, because it reduces the public’s ability to oversee and counteract what the government wants to do.”
bloomberg.com
The national assembly approved today the so-called enabling law by a three-fifths majority, allowing Maduro to enact laws, such as limits on profits, without the oversight of congress.
“It’s my responsibility to sign this to fight against corruption and speculation,” National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello said from congress in comments broadcast on state television.
“I sign this in Chavez’s name.” Maduro acquired for the first time the same power his late predecessor Hugo Chavez relied on for a third of his 14 years in office to nationalize companies, create taxes and increase labor rights.
Maduro said he will use decrees to protect the people from the “parasitic bourgeoisie,” which he accuses of hoarding goods and overcharging customers.
He will pass populist measures to regain support that has been eroded by the fastest inflation in the world ahead of the Dec. 8 vote, David Smilde, a sociology professor at the University of Georgia, said.
The government “is seeking once again scapegoats to blame for their own mistakes,” the opposition coalition, led by former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, said in an e-mailed statement.
“The government is trying to deviate attention from the serious economic crisis that is hurting Venezuela.”
The proportion of Venezuelans that perceive the economic situation as negative rose about 20 percentage points to 72 percent since April, Barclays PLC said in a Nov. 12 report, citing a Datanalisis poll taken from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2.The margin of error wasn’t provided.
Shortages
Inflation (VNVPIYOY) in Caracas soared to 54 percent in the 12 months through October, the fastest pace in 16 years. Lack of dollars has led to shortages of everything from flour to car parts in a country that imports 70 percent of the goods it consumes.
Maduro said yesterday he will initially use the law to impose profit margins across the economy. He said price regulators backed by military inspected more than 1,000 businesses, forcing 99 percent to lower prices.
“With the enabling law, no one will stop me from protecting the people from the speculators, the parasites, the thieves, the corrupt,” Maduro said Nov. 14. Venezuela’s army occupied this month an electronics chain to enforce price reductions ordered by Maduro.
He said Daka stores were overcharging customers by as much as 1,200 percent. The opposition coalition, known as MUD, voted against the enabling law it said will be used to criminalize opponents.
“Maduro can now put out laws behind closed doors, without consulting the opposition or his own coalition,” said Smilde.
“From a democratic perspective it’s undesirable, because it reduces the public’s ability to oversee and counteract what the government wants to do.”
bloomberg.com
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