Venezuela's constituent assembly takes over functions from parliament

Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-19 04:13:29|Editor: yan
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CARACAS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's controversial National Constituent Assembly (ANC) on Friday decided to take over functions of the opposition-held National Assembly (AN) in order to "preserve peace and sovereignty."

After a motion presented by Delcy Rodriguez, President of the ANC, the special decree approved "assuming functions to legislate on matters directly related to guaranteeing the preservation of peace, security, sovereignty, the socioeconomic and financial system, the goals of the state and the preeminence of the rights of Venezuelans." Rodriguez filed the motion in which she highlighted the ANC's role in "rebalancing the country politically and its character as a space for national dialogue."

Rodriguez said the move was not putting an end to the AN, saying this only marked a "cohabitation" between the two bodies.

In an attack on the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), which won the 2015 legislative elections, she said that "there are empty seats, when we call them to peace...that is the response of the right."

The MUD refused to take part in the ANC, calling it a blatant unconstitutional power grab by the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Stating that the AN members had not tackled the matters of economy or peace, Rodriguez said that "they continue to ignore the people. They arrived in Parliament with the sole objective of removing the president from power."

The MUD has led street protests since April, demanding early presidential elections, the resignation of Maduro and an end to the ANC.

After the decree, ANC member and former speaker of the AN, Diosdado Cabello confirmed that the ANC was not seeking to replace the parliament.

Speaking to Telesur, Cabello said the decree only sought to take over "certain functions" from a parliament, which he feels has become paralyzed.

"If the National Assembly was dissolved, its deputies would cease to exist but they still do. If it was dissolved, we would not be having a decree which only assumes certain functions," he explained.

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