Its truly horrifying to watch a country sink into tyranny in the western hemisphere, all the while the Obama admin goes around the world apologizing for the United States and reaching out to dictatorships. Basically the only opposition Chavez had left was on a local level, so he has stripped these politicians of their power. In addition he is using the power of the state to lay corruption charges at the feet of his enemies.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The mayor of Venezuela's capital just lost much of his authority. The mayor of Maracaibo, the country's second-largest city, is in hiding. Soldiers have taken over ports once controlled by governors who are members of the opposition.
Opponents of President Hugo Chavez say a series of moves by the socialist leader's allies, including targeted corruption probes and laws shifting power away from opposition-held offices, mark a power grab by Chavez at a time when he's feeling emboldened by a referendum win allowing indefinite re-election.
"It's a government that's becoming more strongly centered on the figure of the president and it's becoming more repressive," said Margarita Lopez Maya, a Venezuelan historian.
Chavez denies involvement in corruption cases being pressed against top opposition leaders but insists many are "criminals" and "mafiosos" who should face justice.
"Let the bourgeoisie squeal, but there has to be justice," Chavez said during a visit to China.
The most recent move limiting the power of an opposition figure came Tuesday, when the pro-Chavez National Assembly weakened Caracas' newly elected mayor by taking away offices including city hall and eliminating most of his responsibilities for city services. Instead, authority will be transferred to an official appointed by Chavez to oversee the capital.
This ends badly.
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