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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Venezuela suspended opposition legislators to stand down | Venezuela suspended opposition legislators to stand down |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Three opposition politicians in Venezuela have agreed to give up their seats in the National Assembly while the electoral authorities investigate allegations of voting irregularities. | Three opposition politicians in Venezuela have agreed to give up their seats in the National Assembly while the electoral authorities investigate allegations of voting irregularities. |
| On Monday, the Supreme Court declared all the actions of the assembly null and void until they stood down. | On Monday, the Supreme Court declared all the actions of the assembly null and void until they stood down. |
| The three legislators say they agreed to leave the legislature to break the continuing stand-off. | The three legislators say they agreed to leave the legislature to break the continuing stand-off. |
| Without the seats, the opposition loses a critical two-thirds majority. | Without the seats, the opposition loses a critical two-thirds majority. |
| The so-called "super-majority" would would allow the opposition to put a more effective challenge to the government of Nicolas Maduro. | The so-called "super-majority" would would allow the opposition to put a more effective challenge to the government of Nicolas Maduro. |
| They would be able to change the constitution and appoint new Supreme Court judges. | They would be able to change the constitution and appoint new Supreme Court judges. |
| 'Victory for the people' | 'Victory for the people' |
| "We completely reject that ruling," said the three legislators on a letter that was read in parliament. | "We completely reject that ruling," said the three legislators on a letter that was read in parliament. |
| But their decision would "help free parliament from the institutional ambush they want to lead it into," they added. | But their decision would "help free parliament from the institutional ambush they want to lead it into," they added. |
| The request by the three legislators - Julio Haron Ygarza, Nirma Guarulla and Romel Guzamana - was approved by the opposition-held assembly. | The request by the three legislators - Julio Haron Ygarza, Nirma Guarulla and Romel Guzamana - was approved by the opposition-held assembly. |
| Members of the pro-government bloc celebrated the decision as "a victory for the people". | Members of the pro-government bloc celebrated the decision as "a victory for the people". |
| "We applaud this move, which puts the National Assembly back within the framework of legality," said pro-government legislator Hector Rodriguez. | |
| The newly-elected National Assembly had defied the Supreme Court ruling, swearing in the suspended legislators last week. | The newly-elected National Assembly had defied the Supreme Court ruling, swearing in the suspended legislators last week. |
| Four lawmakers were barred by the Supreme Court - three from the opposition and one allied with the government - after the Socialist Party alleged irregularities during the 6 December vote for a new assembly. | Four lawmakers were barred by the Supreme Court - three from the opposition and one allied with the government - after the Socialist Party alleged irregularities during the 6 December vote for a new assembly. |
| The opposition claimed the the ruling was designed to strip it of the crucial two-thirds majority. | The opposition claimed the the ruling was designed to strip it of the crucial two-thirds majority. |
| Without the four legislators, the opposition has 109 seats and the government 54. With the four banned legislators, the opposition gets the 112 seats it needs to reach the so-called "super-majority". | Without the four legislators, the opposition has 109 seats and the government 54. With the four banned legislators, the opposition gets the 112 seats it needs to reach the so-called "super-majority". |
| The four politicians are all from the rural and sparsely populated south-western state of Amazonas. | The four politicians are all from the rural and sparsely populated south-western state of Amazonas. |
| Venezuela's Supreme Court has almost always ruled in favour of the government during the last 17 years of socialist government under President Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. | Venezuela's Supreme Court has almost always ruled in favour of the government during the last 17 years of socialist government under President Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. |