The controversial assembly charged with rewriting Venezuela’s constitution met for the first time Friday.
Delegates of the National Constituent Assembly marched to Caracas’s neo-classical legislative palace accompanied by hundreds of red-shirted government supporters.
Some carried roses and large portraits of the late Hugo Chavez, predecessor and mentor to President Nicolas Maduro. Some shouted, “He’s returned,” as a jab at the opposition, which ordered images of Chavez removed from an adjacent building when it won control of congress in 2015.
The assembly, elected on Sunday in a vote boycotted by the opposition, is charged with rewriting Chavez’s 1999 constitution and has been given sweeping powers over other branches of government.
Parallel assemblies
It will function in the same downtown Caracas palace complex as the existing opposition-run congress, which could potentially be dissolved by the new all-powerful body.
The two bodies are expected to hold sessions in parallel, separated by an ornate cobblestone courtyard.
Members of the constitutional assembly participate in their first session in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)
As it’s first act of business, the assembly selected former Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez to lead the body. The nomination, made by socialist party leader Diosdado Cabello, was approved unanimously by the 545 delegates.
Rodriguez led a cadre of close allies of Maduro who resigned top posts to run for the constituent assembly, which will have sweeping powers to upend institutions and go after the government’s opponents.
Deteriorating situation
Meanwhile, representatives of the South American trade bloc Mercosur said they will meet to discuss the deteriorating situation in Venezuela.
Mercosur suspended Venezuela late last year over what member nations said was its failure to comply with commitments on democracy and human rights.The Brazilian foreign ministry said in a statement that the foreign ministers of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will meet Saturday. There’s speculation they will evict Venezuela for violating the group’s democratic norms.
Venezuela has increasingly cracked down on the opposition and many countries throughout the region have denounced the allegedly tilted election of a pro-government assembly to rewrite the constitution.
Worldwide condemnation
Governments from Spain to Canada to Argentina have spoken out against the assembly and the United States imposed sanctions on OPEC member Venezuela, which is grappling with a political and economic crisis.
Supporters of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro’s government hold pictures of late president Hugo Chavez and national hero Simon Bolivar as they demonstrate before the first session of the constitutional assembly in Caracas. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)
The Vatican this morning urged Venezuela’s government to “avoid or suspend” the new assembly tasked with rewriting the constitution while holding near-absolute powers.
A statement issued Friday says steps such as the assembly “rather than favour reconciliation and peace, foment a climate of tension and confrontation.”
