the national, state and local level. Article VIII Reorganized public offices to recuperate autonomy and independence, removing officials illegitimately named to their posts as members of the Supreme Court, Attorney General, Comptroller General, and members of the National Electoral Council. These positions would be filled as soon as possible with consultation of the Ministers and Advisory Council. Article IX Suspended 49 decrees from the Ley Habilitante (Enabling Act). Article X Upheld all other laws both internal and international, as long as they do not disagree with the present Act. Article XI All members of the transitional government will abandon their posts once their newly elected counterparts take charge. Aftermath The Act was the catalyst that allowed the Armed Forces to justify abandoning the newly formed government, returning Chávez to power on 13 April. After Chávez was re-instated as president, controversy regarding those that signed The Act remained. According to El Nacional, among almost 400 signatures is the signature of María Corina Machado, a political activist and co-founder of Súmate. She denies signing the decree itself, but rather a signature roll. Another notable signee is former Zulia Governor and former presidential candidate, Manuel Rosales, who says his participation was an honest mistake rather than a pre-planned coup like Chávez's. Referring to The Act, Venezuelan historian and politician Jorge Olavarría said, "what these fellows brought, and may people who hear pardon me but these things have to be said with the crudeness of the situation, what these fellows brought me [the Carmona decree draft] is a piece of shit, yes totally, if this is going to happen, you have to do these things well, but this was a big mess up, technically and politically..." Notes External links Acta de constitución del Gobierno de Transición Democrática y Unidad Nacional The Revolution Will Not be Televised seek (00:45:42) – Google Video "X-ray of a Lie" seek (1:00:26) – Google Video. 2002 in Venezuela History of Venezuela Politics of Venezuela Decrees