Venezuela Supreme Court says National Assembly is void

I’m going to post this even as I know You people don’t care about my country.

In December there was an election in Venezuela where the opposition to the disastrous chavista government won 2/3 of the congress. According to the Venezuelan constitution that is the maximum required majority to approve anything contemplated in the constitution, changes to it, the call for a new constitution, removal of supreme court judges and so on. That was on December 6.

At 12:30am of December 7 Maduro said he respect this results, this after the defense minister (and maximum army general) said the army support the results; according to some knowing people in the country Maduro and Cabello (president of the congress at that point) tried to change the results but the defense minister refused and that’s why he made the declarations about the results before they were released to the public.

In the following days Maduro traveled to Cuba and in his return he changed his mind, first he said the opposition committed fraud in the elections. The Chavista congress that had their last regular meeting on December 15, made 3 further meeting when they designated 14 supreme court judges, this had to happen during 2015 but they could not do it as they lacked the 2/3 of the votes to designate a supreme court judge, nevertheless with simple majority (half plus 1) they elected the 14 new (chavista) supreme court judge on December 23.

After this date the supreme court (in holidays since December 15) gathered to receive a claim of fraud in the December 6 elections. First any refute to the elections have to be done in CNE, organism in charge of elections in the country, second the congressman in Venezuela have immunity from the moment they are proclaimed and this immunity can only be removed by the congress 3/5 majority. On December 28 the supreme court ruled that 4 of eleven congress man refuted by the PSUV (government party similar to communist party of USSR) could not take possession of their charges while they have not emitted sentence, this four congress man are 3 of the opposition and one chavista all from a state the Chavistas claim the opposition bough votes. Without this 3 congressman the opposition no longer have the 2/3 supermajority.

A member of the directive of the CNE (all chavistas) declared that all congressman had to take possession of their charges and then if it was proven that votes were bough, and if those votes were enough to change the results is when the congressman have to be removed. The directive of the new congress in its first ordinary session oath the 3 opposition congressman into office.

Now:

Venezuela's Supreme Court has ruled all actions of the opposition-held National Assembly are void until three banned members are removed from office.

The court said the ruling applied to all acts that have been taken or will be taken by the current assembly.

The move is likely to escalate the political turmoil gripping the crisis-hit country.

Four lawmakers were barred by the Supreme Court - three from the opposition and one allied with the government - after the Socialist Party alleged irregularities during last month's vote for a new congress.

The opposition claimed the the ruling was designed to strip it of a so-called "super-majority" in the assembly and swore in the three barred members. The supermajority gives the opposition extra powers such as removing judges from the top court.

BBC

And so by the force of a supreme court unconstitutionally elected, the government disavow what 70% of Venezuelans voted, less than a month lasted what Maduro said .

Now why it was so important to the judges of the supreme court to sacrifice their holidays to remove the 2/3 majority of the congress? well it happens that ONLY 2/3 of the congress can put or remove supreme judges from their charges, making the DEC 23 designation of 14 supreme void... In Venezuela only the opposition (70% of the vote) has to respect the law, the law does not apply to the corrupt minority in charge

Democracy is working!!!

a reply to: Indigent

That populism mixed with wannabe socialism but oneself living like a Saudi King and a grain of idolatry and then the rest has to eat crap stuff is what you have in that place. I was happy to leave that place behind. Not that I had an alternative I couldn't get my medicament's there. Back in Europe no food shortages no crime paranoia. And finally no mosquitoes. Not all have the luxury of leave that once beautifully country once a good destination to immigrate to.

a reply to: Indigent

Ha ha, so the Venzuelan National Assembly is null and void......and the US Congress IS a Void.

There's more and more to avoid these days!

This is what happens when you allow socialism to creep too tightly into your governance system. Power is grabbed and those who hold it seldom give it up easily or peacefully.

FDR tried his own version of court packing back during the Depression in order to attempt to add his so-called 2nd Bill of Rights to the COTUS over SCOTUS objections. Thankfully for all of us, he failed.

It seems you were not so lucky and it begins to appear that if Venezuela wants to keep its government, you will have to do more than simply win the election. You may have to fight a war for it too.

Well, that is crazy, letr's just hope Mercosur countries apply pressure through sanctions to get this sorted out.
Venezuela should be kicked out of the Mercosur and have a trade embargo. That's the only to get this guys out of office.

What they did is downright illegal and should not be condemned but punished by the international community. Brazil and Argentina should set the example