BUENOS AIRES (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th May, 2019) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called on Monday on the leadership of his United Socialist Party to prepare for parliamentary elections, which he wants to hold "better sooner than later."
On May 21, Maduro offered to the opposition, which, according to the results of the last election, controls the parliament, to hold early parliamentary elections. According to the president, the authorities and the opposition should compete in order to legitimize the National Assembly. Now, the parliament is actually excluded from participation in the political life of the country, the full legislative power is concentrated in the hands of the National Constituent Assembly, which is loyal to Maduro.
"I ask the Unified Socialist Party of Venezuela from today to be ready for our electoral machine to be the winner of the election that must be convened to renew the National Assembly, better sooner than later. We want elections, the elections are our slogan," Maduro said in a speech broadcast on Twitter.
Ha also called the opposition-controlled parliament a "bunch of worthless lazy people."
Venezuela has been suffering from a severe political crisis since late January, when US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido illegally proclaimed himself interim president in a bid to oust Maduro, since the opposition did not recognize his re-election last year.
Dozens of countries around the world have endorsed Guaido, and called on Maduro to step down and for a new election to be organized. China, Russia, Turkey and numerous others have, in turn, voiced their support for Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president.
