BRASILIA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- South American trade bloc Mercosur (Southern Common Market) on Saturday voted to suspend Venezuela indefinitely for "breaching democratic order."
Foreign affairs ministers from Mercosur's four founding countries -- Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay -- issued a statement in Sao Paulo, Brazil, announcing their decision to suspend Venezuela in Mercosur. The five above-memtioned countries are the full members of Mercosur with Bolilvia and Chile as associate members.
"It is a serious sanction of a political nature," designed to politically isolate the country, Brazil's Foreign Affairs Minister Aloysio Nunes told reporters at a press conference following their meeting.
The move comes a day after a National Constituent Assembly (ANC) was installed in Caracas to take on legislative powers in Venezuela until a new Constitution is drafted.
Mercosur foreign ministers said the move was meant to send a message to Venezuela, which is in the mire of a deep political and economic crisis.
Venezuela's right-wing opposition boycotted the ANC election held on July 30 and accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of using the ANC to consolidate power.
Saturday's decision marks the second time Mercosur has suspended Venezuela for alleged violations of democratic principles.
At the end of last year, the bloc suspended Venezuela on legal grounds, saying it had failed to fulfill the agreements and requirements to become a full-fledged member.
Venezuela on Saturday called the suspension baseless.
