Three Venezuelan opposition lawmakers give up seats in a move to unblock Congress
- 8 years ago
Three opposition lawmakers have reluctantly given up their seats in Venezuela’s new opposition-led National Assembly. In defiance of the Supreme Court the three had been sworn in despite allegations of vote cheating in their constituencies. The move is an attempt to diffuse an acrimonious power dispute with President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
The U-turn was cheered by government lawmakers. The Supreme Court had threatened to make congressional decisions null until the three had left.
In December the opposition won a majority in the Assembly giving it a long-sought power base to challenge Maduro who succeeded late president Hugo Chavez , and try to undermine his grip on the OPEC nation of 29 million people.
The U-turn was cheered by government lawmakers. The Supreme Court had threatened to make congressional decisions null until the three had left.
In December the opposition won a majority in the Assembly giving it a long-sought power base to challenge Maduro who succeeded late president Hugo Chavez , and try to undermine his grip on the OPEC nation of 29 million people.