Nicolas Maduro now has the power to rule Venezuela by decree

CARACAS, Venezuela — A day after launching major military exercises, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been awarded special legislative powers in response to a decree issued by US counterpart Barack Obama.

In an address to thousands of lawmakers outside the presidential palace on Sunday, Maduro received the parliament's authorization to govern by decree.

The so-called "anti-imperialist" law was passed in the second and final discussion by the ruling majority.

It gives Maduro the power to write bills and approve laws without prior or subsequent contest by the legislators.

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The measure was approved by the National Assembly after a parliamentary debate, followed by thousands of government supporters gathered outside the parliament and presidential palace.

Last Monday, US President Barack Obama declared Venezuela a national threat under a US law enacted in December.

The US leader's executive order also effected and expanded sanctions against certain Venezuelan officials, accused of human rights violations during anti-government protests in Venezuela in 2014.

The protests, which Maduro claims were part of a US-backed coup attempt, resulted in the deaths of 43 people.

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Opposition lawmakers, who voted against the proposal, called the move a power grab.

However, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, which unifies a large part of the opposition, while asserting that Maduro's government had violated citizens' rights also said that Venezuela did not threaten any other nation.

Maduro also called for at least 10 of Venezuela's 30 million inhabitants to sign a letter asking Obama to revoke the executive order, which he said he would then send to the US leader.

Maduro declared the letter would complement other initiatives, such as military exercises underway throughout Venezuela until the end of the month and intended to ensure that, should it attack, "imperialism will receive the biggest lesson that has ever been seen."

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