Venezuela’s opposition-controlled congress on Saturday rejected a government bid to usurp many of its powers, vowing to continue its legislative agenda and denouncing the move against it as a power grab by President Nicolas Maduro.
“This is a parliament in resistance against an armed military dictatorship,” declared congressional Vice President Freddy Guevara.
But there were no new street protests on Saturday. Months of antigovernment demonstrations have stalled in recent days amid a sense of weariness and rifts within opposition ranks.
The latest political crisis essentially pits one legislative body against another. Venezuela’s congress, known as the National Assembly, is controlled by Maduro opponents. A newly created body, the constituent assembly, supports Maduro and issued a decree declaring its ability to pass laws — a power that opponents say lies only with congress.
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