Venezuela Leader Decrees Powers Divide Opinion

A law giving Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro the power to temporarily govern by decree has been met with criticism by opposition politicians.

The law was passed on Sunday by the National Assembly, where Mr Maduro’s party has a majority.

President Maduro asked for the extra powers to counter what he described as threats by the US government after the White House imposed fresh sanctions.

Pro- and anti-government politicians heatedly discussed the new powers for more than two hours before they were approved.

Bolivarian Militia members shout slogans against US President Barak Obama during a pro-government rally outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on 15 March, 2015. Members of the Bolivarian militia turned out in force to support President Maduro on Sunday

The new “Anti-imperialist Law for Peace” allows President Maduro to bypass the National Assembly and take action to “protect against the meddling by other nations in [Venezuela’s] internal affairs as well as any warmongering or external or internal activity which breaches the peace”.

Lawmaker Angel Medina of the opposition Justice First party said the real aim of the new law was “to persecute those who think differently from Maduro”.

His opinion was echoed by Leomagno Flores of the Democratic Action party, who said it sought to weaken opposition parties.

“It’s a law to cover up the government’s weakness and to subjugate the Venezuelan people,” he said.

Opposition politicians accuse the government of trying to silence them by jailing some of the fiercest opponents of the government.

The most vocal leader of the opposition, Leopoldo Lopez, has been in detention for more than a year on charges of inciting violence.

And last month, Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma was arrested on charges of plotting with the US to overthrow President Maduro.

President Maduro argued that the decree powers were key to defend the country following the announcement last week by US President Barack Obama of fresh sanctions against Venezuelan officials.

Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro hold up placards depicting during a rally against imperialism in Caracas on 15 March, 2015 Tensions between the US and Venezuela have been on the rise for months

In his executive order, President Obama said that the situation in Venezuela – including “the erosion of human rights guarantees” – constitutes “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”.

The wording caused outrage with the Venezuelan government, prompting Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez to declare US officials were “one step away from declaring war on the entire world”.

Politicians from the governing PSUV party also argued the decree powers were key to defend Venezuela from US interference.

Earle Herrera said Venezuelans would not bow to any empire and urged members of the National Assembly to back the decree powers or “back [Obama’s] executive order”.

William Farinas warned that “the US is coming after our oil, not our mangoes” and told his fellow National Assembly members that it was a day for decision making “not for cowards or hypocrites”.

Mr Maduro’s decree powers will come into force as soon as the new law is published in the official gazette.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev speak during their meeting in the Konstantin Palace outside St. Petersburg, Russia, March 16, 2015.