Chavez tightens his grip on Venezuela

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez celebrated his re-inauguration on 10 January by introducing a major cabinet reshuffle with 12 new ministers taking office.

The general trend of the new appointments was to replace older, more moderate figures with younger politicians who are entirely loyal to the ideals of Chavez. This will allow him to exert greater control over internal party politics and ensure that he will not encounter any opposition within his party while he turns his attention to expanding his revolution externally.

In this respect, the president plans to radicalise Venezuela dramatically; in his inauguration speech he spoke of nationalising more of the country's industries in line with his long-term policy of expanding state control of key industries. It comes as little surprise that one of his primary targets will be the lucrative oil industry, with foreign investors having been informed that the negotiating period is over and that they will have to accept new legislation permitting the state to take a primary stake.

Chavez' desire for increased control can also be seen in his plans to introduce an 'enabling law', which would allow him to rule by decree, therefore passing controversial legislation almost at will. This will have little impact on Venezuela's political system at present, given that parties loyal to Chavez make up the entire Congress, following the opposition's decision to boycott the December 2005 congressional elections.

Chavez does not need an enabling law as his supporters will pass his proposals anyway. Rather the law, which is expected to be rubber-stamped by Congress by the end of January, is intended to ensure future control of Congress in the event that an opposition revival leaves Chavez with a less complaisant legislature.

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© 2006 Jane's Information Group
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