Venezuela today initiated an unprecedented step to swear and take office the elected deputies for the period 2016-21 of National Assembly (unicameral parliament), which for the first time in 17 years of Chavez government has opposition majority.
The historic day passed without disturbance but it was not without incident, as opposition deputies claimed they were attacked by pro-government supporters when arrived at the parliament building and the Chavistas lawmakers left the session before the end.
as did Chavismo as had the majority, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) decided to stay with all charges directors of the Assembly.
the new president, which happens to captain Diosdado Cabello, who anyway will continue in parliament because he was reelected congressman is Henry Ramos, 72, and secretary general of the traditional social democratic party Democratic Action (AD).
the first and second vice presidents were, respectively, in the hands of fellow Social Democrat Enrique Marquez, party Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT), and the socialist Simon Calzadilla, leader of the Progressive Movement of Venezuela (MPV ).
At the installation session were sworn in 109 of the 112 deputies of the MUD and 54 of the 55 of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Chavez, after a special commission analyzed credentials the 167 elected legislators.
did not the four deputies from the state of Amazonas -three and one PSUV- MUD provisionally prevented from doing so by a precautionary measure taken by the Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court (TSJ).
the measure in abeyance control of two thirds of the Assembly (112 deputies on 167 total) that the MUD won in the elections on 6 December, according to the official proclamation of the National Council electoral (CNE).
the two-thirds is the most demanding of the two qualified majority -the other is three-fifths in both cases on the total bancas- that the Constitution requires to sanction certain types of laws.
After the oaths of rigor, members of the ruling bloc withdrew from the enclosure in disagreement with an alleged "flagrant violation" of the rules, because "today's meeting is installation and was not provided any right to additional word, "said Cabello.
Chavista deputies reacted that way when Ramos Allup gave the floor to the head of the block of MUD and national coordinator of the center-right party Primero Justicia (PJ .), Julio Borges
"they go because they want to hear the things we say here; will have to get used to, because in the next five years there will be freedom of expression, "said the new president of the Assembly in his first speech after being sworn in.
Ramos Allup reiterated that the MUD will decide in the next six months "constitutional, democratic, peaceful and electoral solution to the cessation of this government."
explained that the options for this are the recall referendum presidential term, which may be convened from mid-year and under certain requirements-a constitutional amendment, voluntary resignation of President Nicolas Maduro or the establishment of a constituent assembly.
the AD leader stressed that the departure of the government and the enactment of an amnesty law to free about 80 opponents prisoners are "nontradable commitments" MUD.
Ramos Allup which before the session greeted warmly hair with a handshake recalled that "in the coming days" Maduro must attend the Assembly . pay his annual message, and said it will receive "with dignity and respect"
the inaugural session of the new Assembly was attended by President of the Mexican Senate, Roberto Gil Zuarth; former Colombian President Andres Pastrana and Lilian Tintori, Mitzy Capriles and Patricia Gutierrez, respectively wives of Leopoldo Lopez, Antonio Ledezma and Daniel Ceballos, three of the Venezuelan opposition leaders imprisoned.
Meanwhile, the military operation strong deployed from the early hours of the day prevented riots among numerous government and opposition supporters who gathered near the building of the Assembly, in the heart of Caracas were recorded
Source:. Dailies the national and El Universal ; agencies ANSA DPA and EFE ; Telam file .
I