Maduro proposes early elections for opposition-run congress

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday proposed early elections for the National Assembly, which is headed by opposition leader Juan Guaido who proclaimed himself the country's "interim president" in January.

The opposition won a majority in the National Assembly in 2015 and the next congressional elections are currently scheduled for late 2020. Maduro did not give an exact new date, and he has previously said he would shift them earlier, without following through.

In a speech at a pro-government rally, Maduro said "we will legitimize the sole institution which has not been legitimized in the last five years."

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido speaks at a rally against the government of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Guatire, Venezuela, May 18, 2019. /Reuters Photo

The past months have seen a power struggle between Maduro and Guaido, who argued Maduro's 2018 re-election was illegitimate. On the other hand, Maduro accuses Guaido of staging a U.S.-backed coup against his administration and says he will face justice.

Meanwhile, Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly (ANC), facing upcoming expiration of its original two-year mandate, unanimously approved on Monday to extend its operation until the end of 2020.

The decision was made for "giving continuity to the work," "solidifying peace and our sacred right, as a nation-state, to be free to build a participative and protagonist model at our own pace," according to an ANC decree.

President of the Venezuelan National Constituent Assembly Diosdado Cabello (C) speaks next to assembly member Gladys Requena (R) and assembly First Vice President Tania Diaz during a session in Caracas, Venezuela, April 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

With the decree, the validity of the legislative assembly's functions was extended for almost a year and a half as the body was officially established on August 4, 2017 and was supposed to work until August 2019.

Representatives of the Venezuelan government and opposition held talks in Norway last week, seeking a way to end the crisis peacefully. Maduro said the dialogue had a good start, but it is unclear how it will proceed.

(Cover: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends a rally in support of the government in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

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Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency