Chavez granted decree powers

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan lawmakers granted President Hugo Chavez broad powers Friday to enact laws by decree, undermining the clout of a new congress that takes office next month with a bigger opposition bloc.

Chavez opponents condemned the move as a power grab, saying the law gives him a blank check to rule without consulting lawmakers. The National Assembly approved the special powers for 18 months.

A new congress goes into session Jan. 5 with an opposition contingent large enough to hinder approval of some types of major laws.

Chavez has argued he needs decree powers to fast-track funds to help the victims of recent floods and landslides, and also to hasten Venezuela’s transition to a socialist state.

He taunted his opponents in a televised speech Friday night, saying now that he has decree powers they won’t be able to block his laws.

“You won’t be able to make a single law, ‘pitiyanquis,’ ” Chavez said, using one of his favorite insults, which refers to U.S. collaborators and translates as “little Yankees.”

The president’s critics have denounced the decree powers as one of many controversial measures being pushed through in the final weeks of a lame-duck congress.

Another measure under discussion Friday was the revised “Social Responsibility Law,” which would impose regulations on the Internet and ban online messages “that could incite or promote hatred,” create “anxiety” in the population or “disrespect public authorities.”