World

Venezuela's Maduro Takes Opposition Congress Leaders to Court

06 of June 2016

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro (C) greets supporters during a rally with Venezuelan pro-government indigenous groups in Caracas,photo: Miraflores Palace via Reuters, Handout

There are wider fears among opposition circles that the president may seek to close down the legislature altogether

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Nicolás Maduro’s legal team lodged a formal complaint in Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Friday against the National Assembly’s opposition leaders for allegedly “usurping” his role in international affairs.

Jesus Torrealba, secretary of Venezuela's coalition of opposition parties (MUD), talks to the media during a gathering to demand a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela June 6, 2016. Photo: Reuteres/Carlos Garcia Rawlins — Jesús Torrealba, secretary of Venezuela’s coalition of opposition parties (MUD), talks to the media during a gathering to demand a referendum to remove President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela June 6, 2016. *Photo: Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins*

Maduro’s legal adviser Elvis Amoroso said documents were delivered to the court accusing the assembly’s heads of violating the constitution by requesting support from international bodies including the Organization of American States. The government views the 35-member OAS as a puppet of hostile U.S. policy.

“It’s unacceptable that bodies like the OAS … receive these men when they know they are usurping a constitutional provision that international relations are exclusively managed by the president,” Amoroso told state TV from the court.

Venezuelan opposition leader and Governor of Miranda state Henrique Capriles holds a copy of the Venezuelan constitution as he talks to the media during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela June 3, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Marco Bello — Venezuelan opposition leader and Governor of Miranda state Henrique Capriles holds a copy of the Venezuelan constitution as he talks to the media during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela June 3, 2016. *Photo: Reuters/Marco Bello*

While the measure was an attempt to stop leaders of the congress from addressing foreign bodies such as the OAS, there are wider fears in opposition circles that the president may seek to close down the legislature altogether.

Thanks to public ire over a brutal economic crisis in the OPEC nation of 30 million, the opposition won control of the assembly in a December election and is pushing for a recall referendum this year to oust Maduro.

Maduro, 53, is already winning a power conflict with the National Assembly, whose measures have been repeatedly struck down by the Supreme Court, but he said recently that the legislature could soon “disappear.”

Simón Calzadilla, the congress’ third in command, said Friday afternoon that the Supreme Court cannot prosecute a lawmaker without the authorization of the National Assembly, according to the country’s constitution.

“The only ones usurping here are the Supreme Court judges in not following the constitution,” he told reporters.

OAS head Luis Almagro, a former Uruguayan foreign minister and now a bitter enemy of Maduro, sought this week to begin proceedings at the hemispheric body that could lead to Venezuela’s suspension on grounds of violating democracy.

Congress head Henry Ramos, a veteran opposition leader, may address an OAS session.