Caracas, Venezuela, Dec 17, 2010 / 12:02 pm
The vice president of the Venezuelan bishops' conference, Archbishop Baltazar Porras, warned that granting President Hugo Chavez the power to rule by decree would result in greater division and “corruption.”
Chavez asked the National Assembly on Dec. 10 to pass a law allowing him to rule by decree for one year in order to address the country's flooding crisis.
If approved, the measure would give Chavez direct power over land use, the military and police forces, transportation and public services. He would also have greater control over the treasury and the tax code, urban and rural development, international relations and the emergency response to the flooding.
Opposition leaders argue the president is only seeking to limit freedoms in the country.