CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Venezuelan Parliament has granted President Hugo Chavez special powers to deal with the aftermath of devastating floods, officials said.
Chavez will be able to pass laws by decree, without needing the support of congress, for 18 months, the BBC reported.
Chavez asked for the power to rule by decree following floods and landslides that killed about 40 people and left 140,000 homeless; it is the fourth time he has been granted a decree since coming into office 12 years ago.
Critics of the decree said the move would turn the country into a near-dictatorship.
Cilia Flores, head of the Assembly, said lawmakers granted the decree because they are responding to the demands of flood victims.
"So that they can have their streets, their highways public services, electricity, everything to live in dignity, we are going to hear their proposals and concerns," Flores said.
Chavez said he has drawn up 20 new laws he will pass by decree.
They include measures to raise a value-added tax to pay for reconstruction and build thousands of homes for flood victims.
Recently elected opposition party congressman Julio Borges criticized the enabling law and said it has a single aim "to give more power to the government and take power away from the people."
