CARACAS - Venezuela's National Assembly Friday approved a series of controversial constitutional reforms expanding President Hugo Chavez's powers that will be voted on by Venezuelans in a referendum next month.
The changes were approved by the 167-seat unicameral National Assembly, which is packed with Chavez supporters. It passed by 161 votes and six abstentions.
Chavez's constitutional reform plan, which must gain final approval in a referendum expected to take place on December 2, would allow the president to suspend media rights during a state of emergency.
It would also lift presidential term limits and increase the president's mandate to seven years from six, and the president would be able to create new regions and name vice presidents to govern them.
The reform plan, which would implement "economic socialism," would also widen the president's decision-making powers regarding military affairs, the national reserves and monetary policy.
Chavez had sought changes to 33 articles of the constitution, but the legislature modified 69 of its 350 articles. Lawmakers on Friday also approved 11 temporary amendments.
The current constitution, which was approved under Chavez in 1999, allows only two successive presidential terms.
Thousands of Venezuelan students took to the streets and clashed with police Thursday to demand a two-month delay of the referendum to allow more time for a nationwide debate on the constitution.
The president's opponents accuse Chavez, who was first elected in 1998, of seeking to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, by trying to stay in power forever through the new constitution.
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11/02/2007 20:25 GMT