Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro proposed an early election for the National Assembly, which was previously scheduled to be held in 2020.
Maduro’s announcement came amid the rally of United Socialist Party of Venezuela held in capital Caracas, which marked the 20th anniversary of Bolivarian Revolution realized under the leadership of late Hugo Chavez.
Maduro said that the Constituent Assembly currently worked on a draft law to combat corruption.
“Parliamentary elections will be held to [determine] the National Assembly this year,” he said, adding that it would be a free and guaranteed election.
Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10 when President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.
The US puppet, Guaido called for fresh protests to demand Maduro to cede power after a week of sporadic mass protests.
Tensions climbed on Jan. 23 when Juan Guaido declared himself interim president.
The USA, Canada and several OAS membered Latin American countries have recognized Guaido, the National Assembly president, as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, but Maduro has so far refused calls to step down as elected president of the oil-rich nation.
The UN, Russia and China opposed the U.S. call to support Guaido, and condemned any international interference in the affairs of Venezuela, while many other countries like Uruguay, Mexico, Turkey and Iran have also put their weight behind Maduro.
The USA has led an international campaign to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Maduro, including seizing $7 billion in assets from the country’s state-owned oil company and a joint venture with its Nicaraguan counterpart.
AA. com / ABC Flash Point LA News 2019.
