Venezuelan parliament approves decree powers for president

Venezuela’s parliament has granted President Nicolas Maduro special powers of decree in the face of threats by the United States.

In a National Assembly session on Sunday, lawmakers voted in favor of the “anti-imperialist” Enabling Law, which allows Maduro to pass laws without legislative approval until the end of the year in an attempt to defend the South American country against US meddling.

“This Assembly declares this law approved,” said speaker Diosdado Cabello, adding, “We are going to head over there in front of Miraflores (presidential) Palace to deliver the law to the people and comrade Nicolas Maduro.”

The ruling Socialist party lawmakers believe that the legislation is a legitimate response to US inference in Venezuela.

The opposition legislators, however, accuse Maduro of exploiting the diplomatic standoff between Caracas and Washington to amass powers and distract people from economic problems.

Supporters of the Venezuelan president took part in a demonstration in the capital city of Caracas on Sunday after the 52-year-old former union activist received the decree powers law.

It was the second time that Maduro was granted special decree powers during his two-year rule.

Maduro has repeatedly accused the United States of meddling in the internal affairs of Venezuela and attempting to topple his government.

The Venezuelan government recently ordered the American embassy to cut the number of its staff from 100 to 17 by around mid-March as only 17 Venezuelan diplomats are currently serving in the US.

Relations between the two countries hit a new low last week when US President Barack Obama slapped sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials, and called the country a national security threat.

Caracas and Washington have been at odds since late Hugo Chavez became Venezuela’s president in 1999. Washington has admitted to endorsing a coup that briefly removed Chavez from power in 2002.