Amid nationwide general strikes aimed at ousting President Hugo Chavez from power, the Venezuelan Supreme Court has stripped Chavez of his powers regarding the police force. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that military forces occupying national police buildings in Caracas must vacate the buildings and transfer control of the police force to Alfredo Peña, the opposition mayor against Chavez. The Chavez government has not yet commented on the Supreme Court's ruling. Last month, the Chavez administration took control of the police force. The Supreme Court issued its ruling after 17 days of crippling oil industry strikes. Venezuela ranks fifth in the world for oil exports and is a major supplier of U.S. needs.
Venezuelan Supreme Court Strips President Chavez of Police Powers - 2002-12-19
The Venezuelan Supreme Court has removed President Hugo Chavez's control over the police amid ongoing strikes aimed at his ousting. The ruling transfers police authority to opposition mayor Alfredo Peña. This development is significant as it highlights the escalating political crisis in Venezuela and its implications for oil exports.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Venezuelan Supreme Court has stripped President Hugo Chavez of his police powers amid nationwide strikes aimed at his ousting. The ruling transfers control of the police to opposition mayor Alfredo Peña.
- The Supreme Court ruled that military forces must vacate police buildings in Caracas.
- This ruling follows 17 days of crippling oil industry strikes in Venezuela.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Venezuela has been experiencing political strife, with President Chavez facing opposition from various sectors, including the military and the judiciary.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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