Venezuelan Supreme Court Assumes Parliamentary Powers

The Supreme Court of Venezuela announced Wednesday that it will assume the powers of the country's opposition-controlled parliament, known as the National Assembly over repeated contempt of court rulings.


"As long as the contempt and invalidity of the proceedings of the National Assembly persists, this Constitutional Chamber shall ensure that the parliamentary powers are exercised directly by this Chamber or by the body it appoints to ensure the rule of law," a statement issued by the court read.

The decision was a response to a legal interpretation in which four lawyers appealed the Supreme Court to analyze the powers of a constitutional article and of the Law of Organic Hydrocarbons.

These sections establish that the formation of mixed companies "will require prior approval" of the National Assembly, "for which the government (...) must inform the assembly of all the particulars corresponding to the said formation and its conditions, including the expected special advantages in favor of the republic."

The Law of Hydrocarbons states that on this matter, the parliament can modify the proposed conditions or establish new ones, which it considers convenient, and that whatever changes are made must be submitted to the house for evaluation.

However, the Supreme Court Wednesday ruled there were no obstacles to the government forming mixed companies, provided it informed the Constitutional Chamber of "all the particulars and conditions with regards to the formation."

Furthermore, the Supreme Court underlined that the parliament - acting de facto - cannot modify the proposed conditions nor establish other new ones on these matters.

The court's decision was also influenced by the fact that in the National Assembly, which began its functions in January 2016 with an unknown majority of the opposition, are three of the four legislators from the southern state of Amazonas, whose inauguration has been impugned, due to which the decision is still pending.

The High Court has said that while the contempt is in place, all acts of the legislative body are invalid.

Official legislator and Former President of the Assembly Diosdado Cabello - one of the most influential people of Nicolas Maduro's government - welcomed the Supreme Court's decision and advised the opposition to obey the court's ruling.

"We cannot remain with an absent National Assembly just because they (opposition) want it," said Cabello at his weekly television program.
 [laht.com]
30/3/17