Controversial assembly begins in Venezuela

By Nancy Caouette

MEXICO CITY

Venezuela’s controversial Constituent Assembly opened Friday despite objections from opposition parties and criticism from the U.S., the European Union and the Vatican.

The assembly, elected last weekend in a vote marked by deadly violence and allegations of fraud, has supreme powers that allows it to rewrite the Constitution and dissolve state institutions.

Its 545 delegates, including President Nicolas Maduro’s wife and son, were sworn in Friday and former Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez was elected to lead the new legislative body.

In her first speech as leader of the assembly, Rodriguez said delegates would “establish justice”, underlying that the Constituent Assembly would not hand the country's fate to a "violent minority" or to the international community.

"We will solve our differences among Venezuelans without any imperial mandate,” she said to delegates and supporters gathered at the Legislative Palace. “Let us defeat the war that has been imposed against Venezuela.”

The installation of the assembly will likely intensify the political crisis in Venezuela fueled by four months of protests that have left at least 120 dead, according to authorities.

“They intend to occupy the parliament in an illegitimate way, defying the will of the people. We will not allow it,” opposition leader Freddy Guevara wrote on Twitter.

At least 40 international leaders had called on Maduro not to launch the new assembly, saying they would not recognize it.

The Vatican urged Maduro to cancel the assembly’s first session, arguing the body would increase the “climate of tension” Venezuela.

The controversial assembly is also being challenged by allegations of fraud during the vote.

Smartmatic, the British technology firm contracted to handle the ballot, said Wednesday the figure of 8.1 million votes was inflated by at least 1 million.

Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz on Aug. 3 announced an investigation.

In an unexpected move, the government returned opposition leader Antonio Ledezma to house arrest after hauling him back to prison Tuesday for fueling protests against the Constituent Assembly.

Leopoldo Lopez, who was also taken to prison from house arrest, has not been released.