National Assembly (Venezuela)

National Assembly (Venezuela). The National Assembly is the unicameral legislative body of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. It was established under the 1999 Constitution, replacing the bicameral Congress of Venezuela. The assembly is responsible for legislating, overseeing the executive branch, and representing the will of the Venezuelan people.

History

The National Assembly was inaugurated on 15 December 1999, following the constitutional referendum promoted by then-President Hugo Chávez and the subsequent dissolution of the previous Congress of Venezuela. Its creation marked a central element of the Bolivarian Revolution, shifting to a unicameral system. Throughout the Chávez era, the body was dominated by his coalition, the Fifth Republic Movement and later the PSUV, passing significant legislation like the 2001 Enabling Act. Following the death of Chávez and the election of Nicolás Maduro, the 2015 Venezuelan parliamentary election resulted in a historic victory for the opposition coalition, the MUD, which won a supermajority. This outcome precipitated a prolonged institutional crisis between the assembly and the Supreme Tribunal, leading to the creation of the rival Constituent National Assembly by the Maduro government.

Composition and election

The assembly is composed of deputies elected for five-year terms through a system of mixed-member proportional representation. Deputies are elected from a combination of nominal seats in state constituencies and closed party lists on a national D'Hondt basis. The total number of seats has varied; following the 2020 Venezuelan parliamentary election, which was boycotted by major opposition parties, the number was set at 277. The body is currently controlled by the pro-government GPP coalition, led by the PSUV. Key opposition figures, including Juan Guaidó and members of the Popular Will party, have been barred from holding seats by the National Electoral Council and the Supreme Tribunal.

Powers and functions

Constitutionally, the assembly holds the national legislative power. Its primary functions include enacting, amending, and repealing laws on matters of national competence, approving the national budget presented by the President of Venezuela, and ratifying international treaties negotiated by the executive. It exercises oversight through mechanisms such as interpellations, investigations, and votes of confidence against the Vice President and ministers. The assembly also has the power to appoint key officials, including members of the National Electoral Council, the Attorney General, and the Ombudsman, although these appointments have been a source of conflict with other branches of government.

Leadership and organization

The assembly is presided over by a President and two Vice Presidents, elected from among its deputies for one-year terms. The current president is Dinorah Figuera of the Justice First party, elected in 2023. Internal work is organized through permanent standing committees (such as those for Finance, Foreign Policy, and Defense) and temporary special committees. The Secretary and Undersecretary manage the administrative functions of the body. The assembly convenes in regular sessions at the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas, though it has occasionally met in alternative locations, such as the El Nacional building, during periods of political confrontation.

Role in the political crisis

Since 2016, the assembly has been a central actor in Venezuela's profound political crisis. After the opposition victory in 2015, the Supreme Tribunal, aligned with Nicolás Maduro, moved to strip the assembly of its powers, leading to widespread international condemnation and protests. In 2019, the assembly's president, Juan Guaidó, invoked articles of the constitution to declare himself Interim President, a move recognized by dozens of countries including the United States and the Lima Group. This created a parallel government challenging the authority of Maduro. The subsequent establishment of the Constituent Assembly effectively sidelined the National Assembly's authority until the 2020 elections, which were largely disputed by the European Union and the OAS. The body remains a symbolic institution for the opposition and a focal point of diplomatic efforts by actors like the Norwegian mediation team. Category:National legislatures Category:Government of Venezuela Category:Unicameral legislatures