CARACAS, Aug 13: Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said he will ask for decree powers last used by his predecessor Hugo Chavez to ramp up a fight against corruption that has begun to cost him politically with supporters.
Maduro, who served as Chavez’s foreign minister and vice president, narrowly won an election four months ago after his socialist mentor died of cancer.
He has struggled with slowing economic growth and rising inflation while also trying to impose control on the diverse coalition he inherited from Chavez. It ranges from military officers to businessmen, leftist ideologues and armed militants.
A new anti-corruption drive that Maduro launched with great fanfare has led to the arrest of some relatively senior officials from state-run businesses and institutions.
But it has suffered from a widespread public perception that “big fish” with political connections have been spared.
In a nationally televised speech, Maduro said he would ask the National Assembly, which is dominated by his supporters, to grant him decree powers to step up his battle to defeat graft.
“I’m going to call a national emergency in the fight against corruption, and I’m going to ask for special powers in order to change the laws,” he said. “If I have to change all the laws to confront corruption, I’m going to do it.”
To be granted decree powers, Maduro would need the votes
Of three-fifths of the National Assembly, or 99 deputies. His ruling Socialist Party holds 98 seats, so he would need just one independent lawmaker to back him. (agencies)
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