Venezuela: Enabling Law approved with 99 votes in its first reading

[spanza]

Source: El Universal

Venezuelan legislators approved on Thursday during the regular parliamentary session the first reading of the draft enabling law requested by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on October 8 in an attempt to fight corruption and the so-called economic war.

Until Tuesday, the Government relied on 98 votes only to approve the law whereas opposition legislators totaled 67. However, the inconvenience was overcome two days ago after the revocation of opposition Deputy María Aranguren's parliamentary immunity.

Upon the separation of Aranguren from her position, ruling party Assistant Deputy Carlos Flores took her place, embodying vote 99 in Parliament to approve the aforementioned law.

Read more: http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/131114/enabling-law-approved-with-99-votes-in-its-first-reading

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Now, Maduro will be the head of the executive and the legislative.

[MADem]

1. All hail the King, he rules by decree...

I wouldn't be surprised if his "ally" Diosdado Cabello is keeping in touch with his old Army buddies.

Hey, he's been down that road before (with his old pal Hugo)....and all things come to those who wait...

[spanza]

7. 8th December elections... or the "Day of Loyalty and Love for the Supreme Commander Hugo Chavez"

Even if they decided to make a new holiday on the elections day which they called Day of Loyalty and Love for the Supreme Commander Hugo Chavez (as the French say, you can't make up stuff like that), they are quite scared of the election results.

Many think the government is looking for any excuse to postpone them (violence, store-jamming, you know...). Non government parties' interests are clear though: stability and order; give no reason to the government for postponing 12/8 elections. So, 3 more weeks...

[MADem]

39. +1 nt

[spanza]

40. It is really fortunate that Venezuela is a very, very democratic country... imagine if it wasn't. nt

[MADem]

41. If the King can rule by decree, it's easy to put off pesky things like elections...for the good of

the people, of course

Gotta make sure the "pueblo es seguro" after all...

[Comrade Grumpy]

22. Yet you favor the military coupsters in Egypt. Go figure.

[MADem]

38. I'd like to see Egypt have a government that truly represents the people.

Morsi did not have the consent of the majority--that is why they took to the streets, AGAIN...and took action the same way they did against Muhamad Hosni Mubarak. See, when people don't come from a culture that supports free and fair elections, they do what they need to do to get the result they want--and that is what they did.

The military has more support than Morsi ever did, and if you knew a thing about how that election was conducted, and what the feeling of the people who live in Egypt is, you'd know that.

But again, to rebut your classically simplistic and false assertion, I'd prefer that Egypt hold elections again, as soon as they are able, and in the meantime rework their electoral system so that some radical, outlying asshole with ten percent approval can't be elected to lead the nation, so that people don't have to go back into the streets and plead with the military leadership (which--sorry to disappoint you--has an excellent reputation for probity and fairness amongst the citizens of Egypt) to rescue them from a nutcase leader who wanted to destroy their Pharaonic culture and their progressive (for the Middle East) POV, and drag them back into the dark ages of early Islam.

[fasttense]

2. Really in congress they are calling it the enabling law?

Really? I somehow doubt this interpretation of what is happening in Venezuela. This article doesn't even attempt to hide its bias against the ruling party. Reads just like a Rupert Murdoch publication.

[spanza]

3. Ley Habilitante = Enabling Law

Con 99 votos el Parlamento aprobó la Ley Habilitante en primera discusión (from Congress TV)
http://www.antv.gob.ve/m8/noticiam8.asp?id=54807

[bitchkitty]

5. El Universal is a right wing rag.

Ever see the documentary "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised?"

[spanza]

8. Con 99 votos el Parlamento aprobó la Ley Habilitante en primera discusión (Congress TV)

http://www.antv.gob.ve/m8/noticiam8.asp?id=54807

[Recursion]

9. "Enabling law" is just the legal term for that kind of law, I think

The DC city council had one with Home Rule, for instance. I know Hitler had one, but it's just what that kind of law is.

[Bacchus4.0]

11. yep, thats what its called just like the one in 1933 Germany

some enabling laws are fairly benign, this one gives him decree powers just like 1933.

[ronnie624]

19. There are important distinctions, however.

- was limited to four years, not several months
- enabled government not only to create decrees, but even laws and treaties with other countries
- these laws could deviate from the constitution
-there were no thematic limits
- neither any house committee nor the Reichsrat (the common organ of the German regional states) had the right to control, or to abolish these laws


In comparison to the situation of the 1920s, Hitler's Nazi Party and his coalition partner the German National People's Party did have a parliamentary majority since the general elections of 3 March 1933.[5] Those elections and then the voting in the Reichstag were carried out in a climate of intimidation and violence carried out by Nazi paramilitary groups. On 23 March, the Communists were already banned and imprisoned, the Social Democrat delegates were the only ones present in the Reichstag to vote against, while the Centre and moderate-right parties voted yes in order to prevent "worse".

The Enabling Act of 1933 was renewed by a purely Nazi Reichstag in 1937 and 1939. In 1941 and 1943 it was renewed by decree, in 1943 without temporal limit. Although it states that it is valid only for the duration of the current Hitler government of 1933, it remained in force even after major changes of ministers. In any case, Hitler called the cabinet together only very rarely after the first months of 1933. The last cabinet meeting happened in 1937. He preferred to govern via decrees and personal orders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enabling_act#Enabling_Act_of_1933

I don't normally like to invoke Godwin's law, but I'm making an exception here.

[Bacchus4.0]

21. the 1933 enabling act is a better analogy than other claims of analogous "innocuous" acts I've seen

so Godwin's law doesn't apply since the analogy is actually apt. Someone pointed to an enabling act from Brazil as an analogy to Venezuelas which granted the government authority to acquire forest land and tried to compare that to Maduro's power grab. Enabling acts come in a wide variety however the Ven act gives authority to Maduro to make law by decree so is much much closer to the 1933 German enabling act.


He has already asked the state to investigate a newspaper for publishing a headlilne he didn't like. Aside from the fact that he will have dictatorial power, he is also an idiot. Not looking good for Venezuela.

There are several nations in Latin America that "leftists" can admire like Brazil, Peru, and even Ecuador who are actually elevating the people in their countries as opposed to this autocratic dipshit.

[ronnie624]

24. I don't "admire" Venezuela's system.

I respect the sovereignty and the inherent right of all nations to determine their own political and economic destinies, without interference from self-serving foreign powers. I like to poke at busy-bodies with an imperialist bent, who post on DU also.

[Bacchus4.0]

25. Ok, I don't see any interference from self-serving foreign powers in this instance though

seems like the Ven government is screwing up the country all by themselves. EDIT: I take all that back, Cuba is definitely helping out.

[ronnie624]

26. US interference in Latin America is never-ending.

Last edited Fri Nov 15, 2013, 02:48 PM - Edit history (1)

Our policies in the region are based on doctrines that grant us the 'god-given right' to control it. At the very least, we are attempting to influence Venezuelan politics through the USAID and other such organizations, and it is very likely that there is all all kinds of covert things going on that are designed to undermine a political movement that the US government clearly objects to. There would be nothing out of character by such conduct. History is replete with examples.

[Bacchus4.0]

27. This is a joint Venezuelan, Cuban mess. USAID isn't even present in Venezuela

The policies of the chavista government over the past 14 years are responsible for the precarious situation is in, not the US.

[Ranchemp.]

28. Why can't you just admit that the Ven. govt has completely screwed the economy

and now are trying, along with a few here, to blame the U.S. and business owners for their failures?
I don't get this blind loyalty to a govt. that has massively failed and is corrupt as any right wing govt..

Every respected economist has pointed the finger at the massive mismanagement and corruption of the govt.
so that tired old meme that the problems of Ven. are the fault of the U.S. is not working anymore.

[ronnie624]

29. Because the Venezuelan government is not singly responsible.

There are many other factors involved, and the government is in a position that is far more reactive than proactive. It struggles against an entrenched and immensely powerful global system, lead by the United States, that seeks to undermine it and eventually destroy it.

This should be obvious to an honest observer.

[Ranchemp.]

30. The Govt. of the U.S. doesn't need to undermine it and destroy it,

Chavez, and now Maduro are doing a pretty good job of it all by their lonesome selves.

[ronnie624]

31. A boilerplate talking point I've seen many times,

that does nothing to advance your argument.

[Ranchemp.]

32. I don't need to advance my argument,

it's right there for all to see if they want to.

[LTX]

33. What other factors? n/t

[Bacchus4.0]

34. Venezuela is singularly screwed up. Other nations in the region are progressing nicely

Particularly notable are Peru and Brazil as far as economic and social gains. The US isn't diminishing their progress. Those countries are flourishing within the immensely powerful global system, not struggling against it.


Sticking the finger at the US while having their heads up their asses hasn't really helped much.

Then again, we are the number one purchaser of Venezuelan oil which is the overwhelming source of funding for the nation, so in that sense, yes we are supporting this fuckup.

[ronnie624]

35. A vast majority of the earth's population struggles against the global system.

They almost all live in poverty, because the system is designed to exploit them and enrich a minority.

[LTX]

36. How is Venezuela "struggling against the global system"?

Perhaps you can be a bit more specific?

[Bacchus4.0]

37. so cheaper HD tvs is the way to combat the global system? n/t

s

[MADem]

42. Brasil is kicking ass, in fact--part of the mini-boom in fancy condo sales in trendy parts of Miami

is on the backs of Brazilians coming to America and snapping up "vacation homes" in South Beach and environs.

[sulphurdunn]

4. This sounds bad.

[another_liberal]

6. Not a very democratic way to proceed . . .

However, President Maduro is fighting the Koch brothers and their fellow oil billionaires for control of Venezuela's oil resources, and they play pretty damn rough too. They want access to those oil reserves without anything like the interests of the Venezuelan people hindering their plans. That heavy Venezuelan crude is just the kind of oil that Koch Industries oil refineries are designed to use.

I hope Maduro reconsiders this undemocratic move, but I support his efforts to maintain Venezuelan economic independence.

[Bacchus4.0]

10. no, he isn't going to reconsider its what he wants and the US is Ven's biggest customer n/t

s

[ronnie624]

23. The Venezuelan constitution allows for enabling acts.

The procedure established in the constitution has been followed.

[MADem]

43. No, he isn't. "Venezuela's oil resources" have been nationalized.

They've been nationalized since 1976, in fact, and Chavez booted out/kept the equipment belonging to a vast number of concessionaires from several countries that were operating in VZ.

Stop recycling tired old memes that just aren't true, and can be proven. No one makes a dime on Venezuelan oil without the express written permission of the idiot in charge, and even at that, he might not pay up, he might cancel your concession in the name of "nationalizing" the assets that the agency brought in to do the extraction work -- i.e., he might swipe your equipment without warning.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100373746

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/08/us-venezuela-election-nationalizations-idUSBRE89701X20121008

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/06/24/us-venezuela-nationalizations-idUSTRE65N0UM20100624

Heavy, sour oil SUCKS. It's a pain in the ass to process, it's cheap to buy because it sucks, and in this environment, where more reliable energy resources are available without all the "Maduro drama" accompanying them, anyone with a choice in suppliers, particularly those without a need for oil over other methodologies, like propane/LNG, will go elsewhere.

If you want to accuse people of buying concessions and making loans to gain (undue? That seems to be where you're going--or was it only bad when USA did it, in the past?) influence in VZ, you need to go way further than USA...all the way to China. They're signing development deals left and right, and borrowing hand over fist from Beijing. And they've been doing this for quite a while, now.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2013-09/23/content_16985752.htm

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/04/venezuela-china-idUSL1N0HU0NM20131004

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Venezuela_relations

Maduro won't be able to stiff the Chinese like he's done with other corporations, though--I don't think they'll play.

[Jackal87]

46. Behold

DUers defending an moron presidente only because of his nametag, if Maduro was a right wing dictator who did the something the opposite, id be against is, theres no reason to support him just because he shares the same leftwing tag.

[ronnie624]

12. His decree powers are limited to one year,

and are probably strictly limited to certain areas of governance, in an attempt to combat corruption.

Lots of hair-tearing and wailing over very little.

[Zorro]

13. And curiously he will find corruption primarily among his political opponents

Watch for it.

[Ranchemp.]

14. And watch it get extended after the one year,

and those decree powers will probably be used on his political enemies.
If he wants to combat corruption, he should start with his cronies in the govt., but I suspect that won't happen, then he'd have to arrest himself.

[Bacchus4.0]

15. if he wants to combat corruption, he should resign and take the chavistas with him

thats where the corruption is. Anyway, Chavez did this on several occasions and look at where it got Venezuela now. Its not effective. They are interesting in maintaining power, not resolving problems within the nation.

[ronnie624]

16. Leftists are corrupt, and rightists aren't.

Got it.

[Bacchus4.0]

17. "leftists" use rule by decree and its good, and criticism of that is rightist

got it.

[Ranchemp.]

18. Corrupt is corrupt, whether left or right.

Get it?

[MADem]

44. Gee, wonder what will happen to his Decree Powers when the year is up?

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

"Hair tearing and wailing over very little" you say?

Abrogation of the democratic process is "very little?"


I guess IOKIYANM??

It's OK if you are Nicky Maduro?

Incredible!

[ronnie624]

20. Your comment is inaccurate.

The decree powers are strictly limited in both duration and scope, and are reversible by the legislative.

[MADem]

45. The legislature has been purged so Nicky has a rubber stamp majority.

How long before he dissolves them, because they're "corrupt" or something?

I've heard this song before.