Venezuela president accuses national assembly of usurping presidential duties News
Venezuela president accuses national assembly of usurping presidential duties

[JURIST] Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro [official profile, in Spanish] on Friday filed a complaint in the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (STJ) accusing National Assembly [official website, in Spanish] opposition leaders of partaking in international relations contrary to constitutional law. Assembly leaders previously reached [Reuters report] out to the Organization of American States (OAS) [official website] to help resolve current political and economic issues. Maduro stated that the National Assembly usurped his exclusive presidential duties by engaging in foreign affairs. Maduro further expressed [Panam Post report] his hope that bringing the matter to court will publicize the National Assembly’s treason. The lawsuit has raised national concerns that Maduro may intend to eventually dissolve the National Assembly’s opposition majority.

There has been considerable legislative tension between the pro-government STJ and the opposition-majority National Assembly of Venezuela following the December election. In April the STJ rejected an attempt [JURIST report] by the National Assembly to shorten Maduro’s term from six years to four. The assembly approved new new referendum rules [JURIST report] to speed up the process of requesting recall referendums. In March the STJ ruled that the National Assembly may not review the appointment of 13 justices [JURIST report] to the high court by the Socialist Party. The 13 justices were sworn in on December 23, immediately prior to the exit of prior Socialist Party majority. In February the court upheld Maduro’s economic emergency decree [JURIST report] as legal and valid despite a rejection by the national assembly. The decree allowed the president to control the budget, companies and the currency. In January the STJ ruled that all decisions from the opposition-led assembly would be void [JURIST report] until three opposition lawmakers were removed from their seats. The court’s decision came days after the assembly swore in elected lawmakers that were temporarily barred by the court [JURIST reports]. The ruling had suspended four elected lawmakers for their involvement in alleged election fraud last December [JURIST report].