The Venezuelan National Assembly has given initial approval to a measure that would let President Hugo Chavez enact laws by decree for the next 18 months, a key step in what the leftist leader calls an accelerating march toward socialism.
The law is expected to easily win final approval next week in a second session of the legislature, which is filled entirely with Chavez allies. Among the laws planned by Chavez are moves to nationalize Venezuela's main telecommunications company and the electricity and natural gas sectors.
The overarching measure that would allow Chavez to pass laws by decree was approved unanimously in its first reading on Thursday after a four-hour discussion by lawmakers. National Assembly President Cilia Flores said final approval is to come next week, though she did not specify a day.
"This process is unstoppable," lawmaker Juan Montenegro Nunez told the National Assembly. "This process is a historic necessity."
Emboldened by landslide re-election last month, Chavez says he is seeking special powers to approve "revolutionary laws" that would mean political, economic, social, national security and defense reforms. Only some of those changes have been spelled out as lawmakers have considered Chavez's request for the broad "mother law" that would give him special legislative powers.
The National Assembly has been entirely filled with Chavez's allies since opposition parties boycotted 2005 elections, citing concerns about fairness. Chavez has said his opponents pulled out of those elections because they knew they had little support.
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