Chavez Delegates Some Powers, Says He Will Rule From Cuba
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez delegated some powers to the country’s ministers while rejecting demands he cede the presidency as he undergoes chemotherapy in Cuba, starting today.
Technology will allow him to communicate with his government from the communist island, Chavez said, while demonstrating on state television how he plans to sign laws electronically using a program on a laptop computer. Vice President Elias Jaua was given temporary oversight of ministry budgets, and the power to appoint deputy ministers and expropriate property, while Finance Minister Jorge Giordani was given the authority to grant tax exemptions, Chavez said.