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Assembly approves Chavez reforms | |
(about 21 hours later) | |
Venezuela's national assembly has approved for the second time changes to the constitution that aim to make the country more socialist. | |
President Hugo Chavez has proposed a series of reforms that he says will give more power to the people. | President Hugo Chavez has proposed a series of reforms that he says will give more power to the people. |
His critics say they are a thinly veiled attempt to concentrate power. | His critics say they are a thinly veiled attempt to concentrate power. |
Once the assembly, which is dominated by Mr Chavez's supporters, agrees on a third and final draft, the reforms will be put to a national referendum. | |
All the seats in the assembly are held by pro-Chavez parties as a result of an opposition election boycott in 2005. | |
Among the main changes to the constitution proposed by Mr Chavez last month were: | Among the main changes to the constitution proposed by Mr Chavez last month were: |
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Mr Chavez is also giving a formal role to what he calls "people power", says the BBC's James Ingham in Caracas. | Mr Chavez is also giving a formal role to what he calls "people power", says the BBC's James Ingham in Caracas. |
Community councils will be able to apply to the president's commissions for funds and manage those funds themselves for projects that they believe are important. | Community councils will be able to apply to the president's commissions for funds and manage those funds themselves for projects that they believe are important. |
Collective property will also be recognised within community groups and cooperatives will play more of a role in the economy. | Collective property will also be recognised within community groups and cooperatives will play more of a role in the economy. |
Re-election | Re-election |
Opponents have voiced concern at reforms which they say are forcing everyone into one way of doing things. | Opponents have voiced concern at reforms which they say are forcing everyone into one way of doing things. |
Mr Chavez's critics are also against the change to a number of terms a president can serve. | Mr Chavez's critics are also against the change to a number of terms a president can serve. |
Current rules mean Mr Chavez is unable to seek re-election and will have to step down when his term ends in 2012. | Current rules mean Mr Chavez is unable to seek re-election and will have to step down when his term ends in 2012. |
After being overwhelmingly re-elected last year, Mr Chavez has pushed for key changes to bring about what he calls a 21st Century socialist revolution. | After being overwhelmingly re-elected last year, Mr Chavez has pushed for key changes to bring about what he calls a 21st Century socialist revolution. |
The opposition has questioned the president's intentions, arguing a new constitution is not needed as the current one was only drafted eight years ago. | The opposition has questioned the president's intentions, arguing a new constitution is not needed as the current one was only drafted eight years ago. |
Nevertheless, recent opinion polls suggest Mr Chavez is likely to win a referendum on his proposed reforms. | Nevertheless, recent opinion polls suggest Mr Chavez is likely to win a referendum on his proposed reforms. |
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