This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6277379.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Rule by decree passed for Chavez Rule by decree passed for Chavez
(about 10 hours later)
Venezuela's National Assembly has given initial approval to a bill granting President Hugo Chavez the power to rule by decree for 18 months. Venezuela's National Assembly has given initial approval to a bill granting the president the power to bypass congress and rule by decree for 18 months.
Mr Chavez said he wants to approve "revolutionary laws" to enact sweeping political, economic and social changes. President Hugo Chavez says he wants "revolutionary laws" to enact sweeping political, economic and social changes.
He has said he wants to nationalise key sectors of the economy and scrap limits on the terms a president can serve.He has said he wants to nationalise key sectors of the economy and scrap limits on the terms a president can serve.
Mr Chavez began his third term in office last week after a landslide election victory in December.Mr Chavez began his third term in office last week after a landslide election victory in December.
The bill allowing him to enact laws by decree is expected to win final approval easily in the assembly next week on its second reading. The bill allowing him to enact laws by decree is expected to win final approval easily in the assembly on its second reading on Tuesday.
'Bolivarian revolution'
Venezuela's political opposition has no representation in the National Assembly since it boycotted elections in 2005.Venezuela's political opposition has no representation in the National Assembly since it boycotted elections in 2005.
Mr Chavez has said he wants to see major Venezuelan power and telecoms companies come under state control. Pledge
He also called for an end to foreign ownership of lucrative crude oil refineries in the Orinoco region. Mr Chavez approved 49 laws by decree during the first year of his previous term, after the assembly passed a similar "Enabling Law" in November 2000.
Critics of Mr Chavez say he is trying to build a totalitarian dictatorship with all institutional powers consolidated into his own hands. Now the president says an Enabling Law is a key step in what he calls an accelerating march toward socialism.
National Assembly President Cilia Flores said "there will always be opponents, and especially when they know that these laws will deepen the revolution". He has said he wants to see major Venezuelan power and telecoms companies come under state control.
Mr Chavez has said he wants to deepen his "Bolivarian revolution", named after the 19th Century Latin American independence fighter. Mr Chavez also called for an end to foreign ownership of lucrative crude oil refineries in the Orinoco region.
Critics of the president accuse him of trying to build an authoritarian regime with all institutional powers consolidated into his own hands.
But, National Assembly President Cilia Flores said "there will always be opponents, and especially when they know that these laws will deepen the revolution".
Campaigning for the elections last year, Mr Chavez vowed he would strengthen his "Bolivarian revolution", named after the 19th-Century Latin American independence fighter.