Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez enacted 26 directives in full force and effect just before the expiration of the enabling law.

The 26 decrees were released in an edition of the Official Gazette published on Friday; therefore, they will enter into force right away. The content of the regulations is not known, because the titles only are listed in the journal.

On February 1st, 2007, the legislature vested in President Chávez special rulemaking powers for 18 months. In the aggregate, 41 statutory decrees were adopted in the areas of energy, citizen's participation, public service, economic and social issues, citizen's and legal security, science and technology, land layout and planning, overhaul of state agencies, finance and taxes, and security and defense.

The directives enacted on Thursday include national railroads, agricultural reliable supply and sovereignty, housing and habitat, water spaces, enhancement and development of people's economy, and partial reform of the welfare system.