Venezuela's Constitutional Bloc demands urgent reforms after earthquake impact

Venezuela's Constitutional Bloc has urged the adoption of extraordinary measures in tax, health, and judicial areas to address the consequences of recent earthquakes. The group highlighted perceived weaknesses in the state's institutional capacity to prevent, respond to, and mitigate the effects of natural disasters. The organization stressed the need for joint state and civil society participation in humanitarian aid and national reconstruction efforts, given the significant human, economic, and social impact of the tremors. The Bloc suggested that the institutional response should have been accompanied by a state of alarm decree, citing Article 338 of the Venezuelan Constitution, to regulate state actions during the public calamity. Key proposals include tax relief for affected taxpayers, such as extended deadlines for tax declarations and payments, suspension of penalties and interest, and a temporary halt to audits and administrative procedures. They also called for special mechanisms to facilitate economic recovery for affected businesses and citizens, including simplified procedures for material loss claims, tax incentives for reconstruction, and exemptions for importing humanitarian aid and recovery supplies. In the health sector, the organization urged authorities to implement temporary assistance programs for those injured or suffering property damage, offering financial support, credits, or direct aid. The Bloc also requested special judicial procedures to ensure the continuity of legal processes in affected regions, including temporary suspension of cases and flexible procedural timelines where necessary, acknowledging that lawyers, litigants, and their families were among the disaster victims.