Legislator Denies Expulsion for Accusing Venezuelan Infrastructure Ministry of Corruption

Venezuelan National Assembly deputy, Luis Tascón, denied media reports on Thursday that he had been expelled from the ranks of the new United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), for denouncing alleged irregularities in the Ministry of Infrastructure.
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Caracas, February 14, 2008, (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan National Assembly deputy, Luis Tascón, denied media reports on Thursday that he had been expelled from the ranks of the new United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), for denouncing alleged irregularities in the Ministry of Infrastructure.

However, Tascón clarified, a motion solicited by "sectors affected in the Ministry of Infrastructure" to expel him from the parliamentary bloc of the PSUV, is pending.

On Wednesday, Tascón submitted an accusation to the Comptroller's Commission of the National Assembly over alleged over-pricing related to the purchase of 100 four wheel drive vehicles and 200 mini buses by the Infrastructure Ministry under the management of José David Cabello, now head of Venezuela's tax collection office (SENIAT).

According to Tascón, a Ministry of Infrastructure budget, dated March 17, 2007, showed the unit price of 100 Toyota 4WDs at 50 million old bolivars (US$ 23,250), while documents requesting budget allocations presented to the National Assembly and the executive indicated that each unit cost 75 million old bolivars (US$34,880).

A similar situation occurred, Tascón said, with 200 mini buses that were quoted at 160 million old bolivars (US$ 74,420) for each unit, but a communiqué sent to the executive and legislative powers indicated that they were 180 million old bolivars (US$83,720).
 
The accusations have lead to a war of words between the leftist deputy from Tachira and wealthy businessman and governor of Miranda, Diosdado Cabello, (brother of José David Cabello, the former minister), who said on his weekly radio program on Wednesday, that Tascón's allegations are "completely false" and that the "true enemy" of Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution is the "false left."

Cabello added that Tascón is an "instrument of imperialism" and made the strange claim that Tascon had a chip implanted in him during a visit to Bill Gates in the United States.

Cabello also claimed he had in his possession a letter in which Tascón supposedly requested a diplomatic passport to be granted to a Venezuelan banker accused of narco-trafficking, and argued that the National Assembly deputy should be investigated.

According to Cabello, the Ministry of Infrastructure has not yet purchased the vehicles in question.
However, Tascón insisted that although the purchase had not been completed the funds approved by the National Assembly for the project last year reflect over pricing of 6.5 billion old bolivars (US$3 million) above market value and questioned why the Ministry was asking for more resources.

In response to Cabello's comments that he should be investigated, Tascón declared he had nothing to hide and that he himself would go the Attorney General's office on Monday to solicit an investigation. "I have no fear of being investigated, they can investigate my accounts, my property, that of my family, everything without exception can be investigated."

President of the National Assembly, Cilia Flores also weighed into the debate, claiming that Tascón was "self-excluded" from the PSUV for "exposing the ex-Minister Cabello to public ridicule without proof."

Flores said she had spoken by telephone to the former Infrastructure minister and that he had said the allegations were false.

Flores said she was also evaluating changes in the Comptroller's Commission for allowing the un-sustained allegations to be circulated, including the possible replacement of the president of this body, Julio Moreno.

In response, Tascón assured he would provide documents to back up his claims and pointed out that, "The only person who can ‘self exclude' myself is me."

Tascón added that if he were expelled from the parliamentary bloc of the PSUV, the National Assembly would be discredited.

He cited President Hugo Chavez's recent call to criticize the government and the ministries in order to ensure transparency and efficiency, saying, "The legislative power is the primary authority that should exercise political oversight. If there is no oversight and no criticism, then parliament doesn't exist."

"I believe in the revolutionary process, I believe in Comandante Chavez, but necessarily, I also believe that we have to correct the errors that we have committed so that our public administration is authentically revolutionary, transparent and efficient," he said.

Tascón also challenged those seeking his expulsion from the PSUV to present a motion to that effect in the founding congress of the new party currently underway, saying the only expulsion he would recognize was one done democratically. However, according to some indications from within the founding congress, it is unlikely that such a motion would be passed.