CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chávez is neutralize efforts as opposed to the Venezuela to impose controls on its power, to a lame duck Congress friendly asking the wide power to enact laws by decree for the coming year.
The plan draws strongly criticized Wednesday by the US Government and Venezuela opponents called a blow to democracy.
Since more than five years, Chavez had total control of the National Assembly through a strategic mistake by his enemies, who boycotted the 2005 elections. This absolute power ends January 5, arrival of a new Congress, with enough representatives of the opposition to prevent certain types of important legislation.
Critics accuse Chavez to try to work around these limitations by obtaining the outgoing Congress to give 12 months - Decree powers which allows to impose laws on its own. They see it as a snapshot of power by a President, as they say is branch Venezuela Cuba-style socialism.
Supporters say that Chavez must order of authorities to quickly approve after serious flooding disaster relief and landslides left thousands homeless.
But the legislation goes beyond these emergency measures orders relating to telecommunications, banking, technology information, military use, rural and urban and "socio-economic system of the country".
Several thousand students marched to the National Assembly on Wednesday, chanting "Freedom!" to protest against a Bill separate they fear increase the autonomous universities State controls.
The demonstration broke after that a group of Chavez supporters threw stones and other objects to the marchers. At least one student was hit on the head with what appeared to be a rock.
Other opponents of the Government notifies that Chavez would attempt to decree laws clamp on groups of media, freedom of expression and the rights of opposition.
In a speech to the National Assembly, legislature opposition Ismael Garcia denounced what he calls a "a set of laws which are a coup against the constitution".
In Washington, the spokesman for the Department of State P.J. Crowley noted that Chávez asked of Congress Decree four times in his presidency.
"It seems to be to find new and creative ways to justify the autocratic powers." "What it does here, we believe, is subverting the will of the Venezuelan people" Crowley, told journalists.
September elections gave Venezuelan "the possibility to send a clear message to the Government", and the new legislature "should have the opportunity to contribute to the political process in the Venezuela" Crowley said.
Chávez won repeated elections because first of all, he won the Presidency in 1998 and insists on the fact that it fully respects the principles of democracy. "All these laws will be part of the constitution," he said Tuesday.
Allies in the National Assembly gave its initial agreement of the so-called enabling legislation Tuesday night and should give the final OK this week.
Chavez would probably not granted powers by the National Assembly incoming, where 66 representatives of the opposition at 165 seats formed a block large enough to disrupt the approval of certain types of legislation and the Court decree Supreme appointments.
Anticipating this change, legislators pro-Chávez earlier this month above named nine judges of new Supreme Court that will be used for 12 years, strengthening the domination of judges widely seen as friendly to his Government.
Leaders of the opposition that decree shows democratic veneer of Chavez as eroding and support the current legislature should not grant the powers of Decree extending beyond its mandate.
A visit to Washington, opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez told the objectives of the Government "to reduce the impact of the new National Assembly".
Lopez also said that now the opposition has his chances in a decade of flying Chavez in 2012 presidential race.
However, the opposition has yet to choose a candidate and polls suggest that President politician most popular rest of the country despite a decline in recent approval.
Chavez, meanwhile, says he plans to be decreeing laws by the holiday season to accelerate the construction of homes and raise taxes to cope with recent torrential rains.
The calendar may allow Chavez sliding through measures potentially controversial during the Christmas lull.
National Assembly has already extended past the usual holiday break session to examine several laws, including a revised right communications who fear of criticism could endanger the last channel television vehement anti-Chávez Globovision.
Legislators consider also extend the "Social Responsibility Law" for the electronic media to the Internet, prohibiting messages "that could encourage or hatred," are intended to create "anxiety" in the population or "lack of respect public authorities".
Two bills have strongly criticized from press freedom groups.
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Associated Press writer Fabiola Sanchez contributed to this report.
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