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AFP
Caracas
Venezuela’s Supreme Court declared the leadership of the opposition-controlled National Assembly illegitimate and its decisions “void” on Monday after it repudiated the presidency of Nicolas Maduro.
The latest escalation in the power struggle between Maduro and the new president of the assembly, Juan Guaido, came on the same day as a brief military uprising in Caracas and amid opposition calls for mass protests on Wednesday.
Supreme Court president Juan Jose Mendoza read a statement to the press declaring that the legislature “does not have a legitimate board of directors.” He charged that it was “usurping its authority, and therefore all its decisions are void.” Hours earlier, the government said it arrested a group of mutinous soldiers who attacked a National Guard command centre in Caracas.
The soldiers had managed to post a video on social media announcing their repudiation of Maduro’s regime and calling on the public to take to the streets in support.
Guaido, on being sworn in as the assembly president earlier in the month, called on the military and the public to support a transitional government to restore democracy after declaring Maduro’s presidency illegitimate.
Last week, the assembly formally declared Maduro a “usurper” and promised members of the military and civilian officials who break with his regime amnesty.
Caracas
Venezuela’s Supreme Court declared the leadership of the opposition-controlled National Assembly illegitimate and its decisions “void” on Monday after it repudiated the presidency of Nicolas Maduro.
The latest escalation in the power struggle between Maduro and the new president of the assembly, Juan Guaido, came on the same day as a brief military uprising in Caracas and amid opposition calls for mass protests on Wednesday.
Supreme Court president Juan Jose Mendoza read a statement to the press declaring that the legislature “does not have a legitimate board of directors.” He charged that it was “usurping its authority, and therefore all its decisions are void.” Hours earlier, the government said it arrested a group of mutinous soldiers who attacked a National Guard command centre in Caracas.
The soldiers had managed to post a video on social media announcing their repudiation of Maduro’s regime and calling on the public to take to the streets in support.
Guaido, on being sworn in as the assembly president earlier in the month, called on the military and the public to support a transitional government to restore democracy after declaring Maduro’s presidency illegitimate.
Last week, the assembly formally declared Maduro a “usurper” and promised members of the military and civilian officials who break with his regime amnesty.
