Venezuela's Maduro Attempts to Oust Guaido and Seize Control of National Assembly

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] In Venezuela, which is experiencing severe political turmoil, President Nicolas Maduro deployed police forces to seize control of the National Assembly, blocking National Assembly President Juan Guaid? from entering the parliament building on the 5th (local time), the day of the re-election. Pro-Maduro lawmakers gathered inside the National Assembly to elect a new speaker, while opposition lawmakers reappointed Guaid? as speaker outside the parliament.

According to AP News and others, Guaid? attempted to participate in the vote for the National Assembly speaker held at the parliament building in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, but failed as he was unable to enter the building. Police were deployed at the National Assembly, surrounding it with riot gear and checking IDs of those entering, allowing only ruling party lawmakers and pro-government media inside. Guaid? accused the police of being "accomplices of the dictatorship that starved the Venezuelan people," engaged in physical scuffles, and even tried to climb over the fence, but ultimately failed to enter the National Assembly.

With opposition lawmakers unable to attend, Luis Parra, a pro-Maduro lawmaker, was elected as the new speaker. Parra, formerly an opposition member, sided with President Maduro after falling out with Guaid?. Although the vote did not meet the quorum requirement, Parra forcibly assumed the speaker position.

Guaid? and the opposition strongly condemned the Maduro regime's move as a "parliamentary coup." Guaid? stated, "This is another blow to our constitution," and said he would continue to preside over the National Assembly elsewhere.

Guaid? and opposition lawmakers gathered at the headquarters of El Nacional, the only remaining opposition-leaning daily newspaper in Venezuela, held a meeting, and reappointed Guaid? as speaker. Out of the 167 seats in the National Assembly, 100 lawmakers voted in favor of Guaid?'s reappointment. AP reported that opposition lawmakers who are either in exile or on the run due to charges by the regime participated in the vote through proxies. Immediately after the reappointment, Guaid? criticized, "The dictatorship has made another mistake."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.