VENEZUELA

Assembly in Chavez grip

08-13-2009 | AP

Panama Star VENEZUELA. Venezuela's congress is often criticized for ignoring the business of the country as legislators don Arab keffiyehs to taunt Israel or gaze at photos of topless women — supposedly in the name of breast cancer research.

In reality, the National Assembly has become a key force in cementing President Hugo Chavez's socialist agenda, potentially changing Venezuela for decades to come. The opposition holds none of the 167 seats, though a dozen lawmakers have broken ranks with Chavez over what they call his growing authoritarianism.

So far this year, legislators have cleared the way for the government to seize more private property and oil companies, stripped power from opposition elected officials and approved the redrawing of voting districts that could favor the ruling party.

Protesters took to the streets this week over the latest legislative proposal to revamp the public education curriculum around "Bolivarian principles." The opposition says that amounts to socialist indoctrination; Chavez supporters say it involves teaching values such as nationalism, humanism and civic pride.

The few lawmakers who argue against Chavista projects resort to shouting when their microphones are shut off.

This week the legislature is expected to take on the education bill requiring public schools to teach "the Bolivarian Doctrine". Also in the works are bills to redefine private property rights and give the government control of foreign funding for human rights organizations. Chavez called on the assembly last month to speed up its work. "We must accelerate the discussion and approval of revolutionary laws," he said.