On January 31, 2007, the Venezuelan legislature unanimously approved a bill granting President Hugo Chavez authority to enact laws by presidential decree without legislative approval for 18 months. The same measure received initial approval by the Venezuelan National Assembly earlier that week. Since winning his third re-election that December, Chavez called for "revolutionary laws" to transform Venezuela into a socialist state, including plans to nationalize important sectors of the economy, including mining, telecommunications, natural gas and electricity.


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Learn more about Venezuela under Hugo Chavez from the JURIST news archive.

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