OAS human rights body IACHR 1 March condemned law allowing govt to suspend public officials suspected of corruption from seeking office; opposition claims President Chávez uses law to prevent their candidates from standing. Chávez strongly criticised internally for failing to denounce Libyan leader Gaddafi; Chávez condemned NATO intervention in Libya but toned down support for regime during month.

Govt 9 Feb confirmed Venezuela’s homicide rate at 48 per 100,000 citizens; has previously refused to release homicide statistics. Opposition parties boycotted 15 Feb National Assembly session to protest key-note speech by general with alleged links to drug trafficking, pro-govt bias. 23-day student anti-govt hunger strike ended 22 Feb after govt promised to review cases of alleged political prisoners, start dialogue with OAS.

New National Assembly (NA) convened 5 Jan, depriving President Chávez’s PSUV party of two-thirds majority, but NA’s powers heavily curtailed following enabling law passed Dec that allows Chávez to rule by decree for 18 months. OAS SG José Miguel Insulza 7 Jan criticised law as against OAS democratic charter; Catholic bishops 11 Jan said law opens for “totalitarian state”. Chávez 15 Jan called for dialogue with opposition, said may be willing to give up decree powers in May, but 26 Jan retracted. Following large-scale student protests, Chávez 4 Jan vetoed controversial law increasing govt control of universities.

Outgoing National Assembly (NA) 15 Dec approved law granting President Chávez broad decree powers for 12 months. U.S. called measure “subversion” of democracy; move comes before new NA with stronger opposition convenes 5 Jan. NA 9 Dec passed law defining role of “community councils”, critics claim at the expense of elected mayors and governors; 21 Dec approved bill banning NGOs, political parties from receiving foreign funding. 5 Dec regional elections in 2 departments resulted in 8 ruling party and 5 opposition candidates elected. Colombian ambassador 16 Dec announced Venezuela paid over 50% of debt owed to Colombian companies, in context of improved political and economic ties in recent months. U.S. 30 Dec revoked visa of Venezuelan ambassador, followed Caracas’s refusal to accept credentials of proposed U.S. ambassador to Venezuela.

President Chávez 2 Nov met Colombian President Santos in efforts to further improve relations (see Colombia). Santos 16 Nov controversially confirmed extradition of drug trafficker Walid Makled to Venezuela; Makled believed to have valuable information implicating high ranking Venezuelan officials in drugs trade. Venezuelan govt 24 Nov responded by extraditing 3 suspected ELN and FARC members to Colombia. Chávez 27 Nov announced Russian $4bn credit for military equipment; fulfilled promise to promote alleged drug trafficker General Henry Rangel Silva to country’s highest military rank.

President Chávez 13 Oct began tour through several eastern European and Middle Eastern countries: 15 Oct signed agreement on nuclear power plant with Russian President Medvedev, 20 Oct announced intention to strengthen economic ties with Iran. Controversy over reported links between Basque separatist group ETA and govt official deepened; govt 11 Oct responded to Spanish request by opening investigation but continued to reject accusations, calls for official’s extradition. Ongoing expropriations of national and international companies: since 26 Sept elections 250,000 hectares of rural land expropriated. Chávez 10 Oct announced emergency bill to expropriate urban land.

Despite polarisation ahead of poll, 26 Sept legislative elections unfolded peacefully. President Chávez claimed victory, announced deepening of Bolivarian Revolution; opposition parties celebrated achieving crucial one-third of seats returning to parliament after 5 years’ absence, allowing them to block major legislation. Chávez 8 Sept accused opposition of being behind attacks on power infrastructure leading to electricity shortages, announced intention to “neutralise” all attempts to create further unrest. Govt 21 Sept formally rejected U.S. Ambassador-designate Palmer, FM Maduro accused Palmer of violating Venezuela’s sovereignty with controversial Aug remarks.

De-escalation of tensions with Colombia: at 10 Aug meeting President Chávez and Colombian President Santos decided to re-establish diplomatic ties, set up committees to restore bilateral trade, improve border security. Amid growing debate on rising urban homicide rates ahead of 26 Sept legislative elections, govt 17 Aug demanded influential pro-opposition newspapers cease publication of violent images, citing “child protection”; provoked accusations of censorship from opposition, media groups. Chávez 8 Aug threatened to reject U.S. Ambassador-designate Larry Palmer after he criticised “low morale” of Venezuelan armed forces, Chávez’s denial of presence of Colombian rebel camps inside Venezuela. Chávez reiterated FARC “has no future through armed struggle”, urged release of hostages.

President Chávez 22 July broke diplomatic relations with Colombia after Bogotá 15 July claimed proof of FARC, ELN camps in Venezuela; govt denied accusations it “tolerated” rebel presence. Colombia 22 July presented evidence to OAS of alleged 1,500 FARC fighters in 87 camps across border; Chávez said evidence could be fabricated and charged that Colombian President Uribe could be trying to provoke war, but called on FARC to renounce armed struggle. Little progress at 29 July emergency summit of Unasur FMs, but Chávez 31 July said “hopeful” of solution when Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos takes office 7 Aug. Chávez 21 July announced govt will take minority stake in anti-govt TV station Globovisión, appoint pro-govt board members. Human Rights Watch 21 July criticised continued govt harassment of human rights workers and new govt body that will monitor, restrict information from govt agencies, established by decree June.

Govt 18 June asked Interpol to arrest Guillermo Zuloaga, head of anti-govt TV station Globovision, after he fled the country following mid-month arrest warrant by Venezuelan court for business irregularities. Top govt anti-corruption official early month barred 7 opposition candidates suspected of graft from standing in Sept parliamentary elections; opposition claimed politically motivated. President Chávez 10 June suspended electricity rationing, in effect since Jan.