Venezuela's Maduro launches takeover of country's legislature

Source: The Hill | January 5, 2020 | Justine Coleman

The government of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro launched a takeover of the country’s legislature Sunday by blocking opposition from entering the National Assembly to vote for head of the chamber.

Maduro’s government de facto installed its own candidate as head of the National Assembly, preventing Juan Guaidó, who is recognized by almost 60 countries as the true president of Venezuela, from retaining the position. Guaidó, who has attempted to unseat Maduro, lost his seat to Luis Parra who announced his candidacy Sunday morning, The Washington Post reported. 

Opposition officials called the move a “parliamentary coup” by Maduro’s government to secure more of a dictatorship by taking over what was considered one of the last democratic institutions of Venezuela.

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Security forces with allegiance to Maduro guarded the assembly building, preventing opposition lawmakers from entering but allowing lawmakers who support Maduro to head in, including some allegedly involved in a scheme to buy votes, the Post reported.

Guaidó, who was expecting reelection today, tried to climb a wrought-iron fence to get in, according to videos on Twitter documenting the incident.

Parra was sworn in, with the support of 40 lawmakers in Maduro’s party, but the opposition argues the lawmakers did not meet the minimum number required in the chamber for a vote. 

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