This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-48345335

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Venezuela crisis: Maduro proposes early National Assembly vote Venezuela's Maduro proposes early National Assembly vote
(about 11 hours later)
Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has proposed an early election for the National Assembly, headed by opposition leader Juan Guaidó. Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has proposed bringing forward next year's election for the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
Addressing supporters in Caracas, Mr Maduro did not set a date for the vote, currently scheduled for late 2020. National Assembly President Juan Guaidó dismissed the proposal as "a farce".
The National Assembly has been stripped of its powers since his Socialist Party lost control of it in 2016. The two men have been at loggerheads since January when Mr Guaidó declared himself interim president, arguing Mr Maduro's re-election was fraudulent.
Mr Guaidó declared himself interim president in January saying Mr Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate. Talks between the two sides via international mediators are under way in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
Speaking at a rally to mark one year since his controversial victory, the president said: "Let's hold elections [for the National Assembly]. Let's [have] a peaceful solution, electoral, democratic, constitutional." What did President Maduro say?
Mr Maduro, whose re-election was marred by an opposition boycott and vote-rigging claims, added: "We're going to measure ourselves electorally... we're going to bring forward elections of the National Assembly." President Maduro made the proposal while he was addressing a crowd of supporters on the anniversary of his re-election in 2018.
Large crowds of his supporters took to the streets of the capital, many wearing red T-shirts and carrying "March for Victory" banners. Read more about Venezuela's crisis:
Also on Monday, the National Constituent Assembly - set up in 2017 by Mr Maduro after his party lost control of the National Assembly - has decided to extend its functions until the end of 2020. "Let's hold elections [for the National Assembly]. Let's [have] a peaceful solution, electoral, democratic, constitutional.
The body, made up exclusively of government loyalists and whose powers supersede those of the National Assembly, was originally due to run for two years. "We are going to measure ourselves electorally, we are going to bring forward elections to the National Assembly," he said without giving a date.
What's the background? Mr Maduro has in the past suggested bringing forward the National Assembly elections but then not acted on it.
Mr Maduro and Mr Guaidó have been at loggerheads since the opposition leader declared himself interim president, arguing that last May's vote was neither free nor fair. Large crowds wearing red T-shirts bearing the governing party's PSUV logo cheered and waved banners.
Mr Guaidó, who says the president is a "usurper", has demanded a new presidential election. He has been recognised as interim leader by more than 50 nations, including the US and most in Latin America. What was the reaction?
Last month, he led a failed attempt to spark a military rebellion against Mr Maduro. Since then, several of his allies have been detained and the Supreme Court has accused 14 opposition lawmakers of crimes including treason and conspiracy. Members of the opposition were quick to mock the suggestion. Carlos Vecchio, who is Mr Guaidó's representative in the US, tweeted [in Spanish]: "@nicolasmaduro you are the problem, not the National Assembly."
Mr Maduro accuses Mr Guaidó of being part of a US-orchestrated coup against his government. He retains the support of the military's top ranks and of allies including Russia, China and Turkey. Mr Guaidó also expressed his opposition to the proposal on Twitter.
During the Maduro government, the economy collapsed, shortages of food and medicines became widespread and more than four million people left the country. Referring to the opposition's boycott of the presidential election in 2018 which Mr Maduro went on to win, he wrote: "On 20 May 2018 we showed that we don't take part in a farce.
Opponents accuse Mr Maduro of mishandling the economy of the oil-rich nation, while he says the country is victim of an economic war backed by the US. "A new farce would only worsen the crisis we're in. Only by putting an end to the usurpation and with a clear referee will there be free elections," he added, reiterating the opposition's demand for President Maduro to step down and for presidential elections to be held.
What's the role of the National Assembly?
The National Assembly is the legislative body in Venezuela. In parliamentary elections in 2016, opposition parties won a majority and have since been in control.
Under normal circumstances, National Assembly lawmakers pass legislation and approve the government's budget.
However, the National Assembly became sidelined when President Maduro convened a National Constituent Assembly two years ago.
What's the National Constituent Assembly?
The National Constituent Assembly is made up exclusively of government supporters and its powers supersede those of the National Assembly.
It was ostensibly created to draw up a new constitution but since it started meeting in August 2017, it has not debated any suggested changes to the constitution.
Instead it stripped 14 members of the National Assembly of their parliamentary immunity, some of whom have since been arrested on charges of treason while others have sought refuge in foreign embassies.
Meetings of the National Constituent Assembly regularly end with members shouting "long live Maduro!" and other pro-government slogans.
How did it come to this?
Mr Guaidó has been recognised as interim leader by more than 50 nations, including the US and most in Latin America but Mr Maduro retains the loyalty of most of the military and important allies such as China and Russia.
Last month, Mr Guaidó led a failed attempt to spark a military rebellion against Mr Maduro, which the latter said was part of a US-orchestrated coup against his government.
Under the Maduro government, the economy has collapsed and shortages of food and medicines have become widespread. According to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), there are currently about 3.7 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela worldwide.
On Tuesday, the UNHCR said it believed the majority of those fleeing the country were in need of international refugee protection.
On Thursday, news emerged that opposition and government representatives had travelled to Norway to take part in talks to try to solve the crisis.
Mr Guaidó has said that the talks are in the "exploratory phase" and that there have been no face-to-face meetings.