Pro-maduro body seated in Venezuela
New assembly derided by opposition, nations
CARACAS, Venezuela — Defying criticism from Washington to the Vatican, Venezuela’s ruling party on Friday installed a new super assembly, which supporters promise will pacify the country and critics fear will be a tool for imposing dictatorship.
The constitutional assembly’s first order of business was selecting its head: former Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, a loyal follower of President Nicolas Maduro.
The installation of the all-powerful constitutional assembly is virtually certain to intensify a political crisis that has brought four months of protests. Maduro vows the assembly will strip opposition lawmakers of their constitutional immunity from prosecution, while members of congress say they will only be removed by force.
“It doesn’t matter where they meet ; they’re installing a fraudulent institution,” declared Freddy Guevara, the National Assembly’s first vice president, at an opposition demonstration.
An increasing number of foreign governments have sided with the opposition, refusing to recognize the constitutional assembly and further isolating Maduro’s government.
The opposition boycotted the July 30 election of the constitutional assembly, saying the rules were rigged to further entrench Maduro’s “dictatorship.”
The results have come under mounting scrutiny after the international company that provided the electronic voting machines said that “without any doubt” the official turnout had been tampered with, a charge dismissed by Maduro and the National Electoral Council.
The constitutional assembly will be made up of an array of pro-government trade unionists, students and even representatives of Venezuelans with physical disabilities. But the agenda is expected to be set by bigger-name loyalists.
Opposition lawmakers have pledged to remain in power no matter what action is taken by the constitutional assembly, raising the possibility of two governing bodies operating side by side, with neither recognizing the other.
Despite questions surrounding the vote, Maduro all but ensured nothing could stop the government from seating the new assembly.