After greeting his cabinet, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday “we are back” to the legislative body that he did not attend in 4 years, a period in which the opposition-controlled the National Assembly. In a special session of a parliament now controlled by chavismo, Maduro offered his first annual message in four years. Among the figures he gave during his speech, the poverty indicators managed by the State standout: 4% of extreme poverty and 17% of “general” poverty.
Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly will not deliver a new constitution, the legislature's chief Diosdado Cabello said on Sunday, despite repeated assurances from assembly members that the body was preparing to update the 1999 Magna Carta.
Venezuela's National Electoral Council on Wednesday called parliamentary elections for December 6, with the opposition already vowing to boycott. The National Assembly parliament is the only government branch controlled by the opposition.
Two lawmakers in Venezuela have both declared themselves parliamentary Speaker after a tumultuous day in the country's politics. US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó and rival Luis Parra both claimed to be Speaker of the National Assembly on Sunday.
The United States on Friday promised further sanctions to pressure Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of bribing lawmakers to block the re-election of his opponent Juan Guaido.
Venezuela's pro-government legislature on Monday agreed to create a commission to evaluate holding 2020 legislative elections early, which would create an opportunity for the government to reclaim control of the opposition-dominated congress.
Venezuelan security forces prevented opposition lawmakers from entering the parliament building for a session on Tuesday, a week after the top court stripped several lawmakers of their immunity amid a political crisis in the South American country.
A group of Latin American countries and Canada has urged the Venezuelan military to support opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president. In a statement, 11 of the 14 members of the Lima Group called for a change of power without the use of force and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid.
Global jostling intensified on Thursday between countries that want Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in power and those trying to force him to resign, as opposition leader Juan Guaidó made overtures to his rival’s allies Russia and China.
The Council of the Socialist International (SI) approved a communique on Tuesday where they recognize deputy Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan National Assembly as the only legitimate power of leading a process of democratic transition in Venezuela.