***The intense rivalry between Chávez and the Metropolitan Police began shortly after the president's 1998 election, when he began making changes to consolidate his power.
Through a constituent assembly's new constitution, Chávez abolished Congress, creating a single-chamber legislature that he controlled. But before that new assembly got to work, an interim Congress appointed a new public prosecutor, comptroller, Supreme Court, and elections council, which until then had functioned as independent powers. ''When all you want is one political party, one newspaper, one radio station, and control over police and banks,'' Peña said, ``you are instituting a totalitarian regime.''***
Chavez VP says government would accept court ruling upholding presidential referendum *** CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's vice president said the government would respect the high court if it rules to allow a Feb. 2 referendum on President Hugo Chavez's rule.
However, Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel warned that such a ruling would create chaos in this country of 24 million coping with a general strike called by opponents to overthrow Chavez.
"If the Supreme Tribunal confirms the referendum is constitutional we will accept this verdict," said Rangel. The government, he added, complied with a ruling exonerating the leaders of an April 11 coup against Chavez. ***
Hugo Chavez - Venezuela
CW- thank you for these continuing reports. I feel so badly for those poor people. This certainly does not bode well. May God watch over them.
Well, Chavez has clearly decided it's not even worth pretending to be anything but a dictator consolidating his power. I think he's been embolded by the North Korean moves and also by the relative silence in the US press (and governmental circles) regarding his actions.