Constitutional lawyer is gunning down Lands Law.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Constitutional lawyer and former government supporter, Hermann Escarra has visited the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) to hear a debate on controversial articles of the new Lands Law, which has come under fire from the powerful Ranchers Federation (Fedenaga)  and opposition political parties. 

• Escarra says he is pushing to have the whole law declared unconstitutional. 

Commenting on the debate afterwards, Escarra told reporters that the magistrates discussed alleged irregularities committed by President Hugo Chavez Frias. 

"The debate was about President Chavez Frias taking on attributes outside his jurisdiction as national executive ... he is not authorized  to legislate guarantees concerning work, liquidate the National Rural Institute or regulate subjective juridical situations of labor law, such as social security, salaries, retirement or pensions."