Venezuelan leader wraps up 'superpowers' with 28 laws

[FrodosPet]

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelan-leader-wraps-superpowers-28-laws-223133595.html

Caracas (AFP) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wrapped up a year of congressionally granted "superpowers" Wednesday by decreeing 28 new laws that analysts said would do little to salvage the troubled economy.

A year ago, the Venezuelan National Assembly, which is controlled by Maduro's United Socialist Party, granted the president the power to govern economic policy by decree for 12 months, ostensibly to fight corruption and the country's sharp economic downturn.

Maduro closed out the year by signing a tax increase on luxury goods, alcohol and tobacco, eliminating inflation adjustments on corporate taxes, and tightening controls to prevent businesses from making profits of more than 30 percent.

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Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, but is struggling to maintain an economic model in which it exports crude to allies at cut-rate prices, sells gasoline cheaper than bottled water on the domestic market, and props up the value of the bolivar with rigid exchange rate controls.

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[Nye Bevan]

1. Congratulations, United Socialist Party!

60% inflation, rationing, and no toilet paper!

[MADem]

2. They gave him enough rope to hang himself.

I think it's more likely that the revolution comes from within his OWN party than from the opposition but you never know...