The meeting of the opposition parliament, elected in 2015, was held virtually, and during the debate, some parliamentarians expressed support for the initiative, while others expressed doubts about the constitutionality of its extension, which was originally supposed to last a year, for a second. four years in a row.
“There were no presidential elections in 2018, nor were there parliamentary elections in 2020. Venezuela cannot exist without legal powers, and that is why we support the constitutional continuity of the legislative branch and the interim presidency, ”said MP Freddie Guevara.
The opponent also stressed that the adoption of the Statute on the political transition “is the only consistent and constitutional decision to leave the dictatorship” and that “it would be suicide” for the opposition parliament to withdraw its support for Juan Guaido and “recognize Nicolas Maduro” as president. …
Since January 2020, Venezuela has had two partially recognized parliaments: one with an opposing majority, led by Juan Guaido, whose deputies were elected in 2015, and the pro-regime Nicolas Maduro, chaired by Jorge Rodriguez.
Parliamentary deputies supporting the regime were sworn in on January 5, 2021, after being elected on December 6, 2020, with ballots not recognized by the opposition.
Twenty of the 265 MPs supporting Maduro are opponents who have seceded from Guaido, and one from the Communist Party.
Today, Edwin Lozardo, who is also an adversary, denounced the reform for “violating the Constitution”, “intending to create a legislative government that is not included in the text of the constitution, taking away all powers from the executive branch.”
According to the local press, the reform of the Statute on Political Transition in Venezuela, which still has to be submitted for two discussions before its final approval, limits the functions of Guaido, suggesting that it will be called “special directives” for public institutions, autonomous, public funds, associations , civil societies and state-owned companies, including those registered abroad.
On the other hand, the interim government is prohibited from using contractual and financial instruments related to the assets of the Venezuelan state abroad, which becomes the exclusive competence of the opposition parliament, which will also have to appoint administration councils for the state-owned company Petróleos. de Venezuela SA and subsidiaries.
James Storey, Commercial Attaché of the US Mission to Venezuela, reacted to the parliamentary decision and via Twitter congratulated Guaidó on the ratification of the post of head of the organization and interim president of the country.
“We congratulate the National Assembly for its efforts to find a democratic solution based on continuity. We continue to recognize the legitimacy of the 2015 National Assembly and interim President Juan Guaido. Returning to negotiations in Mexico is the best way forward, ”wrote James Storey on his Twitter account.
The political, economic and social crisis in Venezuela has escalated since January 2019, when Guaido vowed to take on the role of interim president of the country until he ousted Nicolas Maduro from power, called for a transitional government and free and democratic elections.
