Chavez Backers Strip Congress of All Power

CARACAS, Venezuela —  Supporters of President Hugo Chavez stripped Congress of its last remaining powers Monday, in effect shutting down the nation’s legislature.

A constitutional assembly, which had already sharply limited Congress’ duties last week, voted to usurp its few remaining powers, including the right to approve presidential trips abroad and budget outlays.

Opposition lawmakers said the vote was a move by Chavez, the leader of a 1992 failed coup attempt, to amass political power.

The assembly, which is dominated by Chavez supporters, said it took the action because Congress was interfering with the assembly’s main work: writing a new constitution for Venezuela and reforming corruption-riddled public institutions.

“We want to coexist with the Congress, but they are behaving like spoiled children,” said Chavez’s wife, Marisabel, who is also an assembly member.

The vote Monday capped weeks of conflict between Congress and the assembly, which was created in a July election with a mandate to draft a new constitution.

Chavez--whose popularity remains about 70%--says the assembly is needed to end rampant corruption and that it is the supreme power in the nation.

But opponents, backed by a Supreme Court ruling, insist that the assembly’s powers are limited to writing a new constitution.

Congress is technically still active. Opposition lawmakers insisted that they would continue their fight and try to reconvene today.