By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch, South America
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s opposition coalition, Democratic Unity, has defeated the Socialist Party in the election for the National Assembly for the first time in 17 years. According to the National Electoral Council’s official results, the coalition won 109 out of 167 seats in the Assembly. Indigenous representatives allied with the coalition won an additional 3 seats. The ruling Socialist party will retain 55 seats.
The supermajority gives the coalition significant power: they can remove Supreme Court justices, pass laws and even draft a new constitution.
The Democratic Unity coalition has said that its first move upon being sworn into office will be to provide amnesty for about 70 opposition members who were jailed following political violence this year. This includes Leopoldo Lopez, whose trial and conviction made headlines worldwide.
Maduro and his supporters are blaming the loss on an “economic war,” swearing to defend the “social gains” implemented by their party over the past decade and a half.
The coalition sees the country’s economy as the biggest issue they will have to face. Venezuela’s current economic situation is considered by some to be “the worst crisis in its history.” Inflation has reached 159%, and unemployment is projected to reach 18.1 % by 2016. Venezuela’s economy has suffered in recent drops in oil prices – which don’t appear to be climbing anytime soon.
“Everything should be aimed at finding a solution to the crisis and toward actions that allow Venezuela to recover economically,” according to Henriques Capriles, leader of the Justice First party, which won the most seats of any part in the coalition.
However, the legislature has limited influence over the economy – most of the control lays with Maduro.
Coalition members have also talked of exploring options to remove Maduro from office, which the legislature could do through a recall election, a constitutional amendment or a complete constitutional overhaul. However many in the coalition, including Capriles, have said that removing Maduro would come only after making strides to solve economic issues.
For more information, please see:
TeleSur – What to Expect from a Counterrevolutionary National Assembly – 7 December 2015
Venezuela Analysis – Venezuelan Opposition Sweeps Parliamentary Elections – 7 December 2015
Time – These 5 Facts Explain Why Venezuela is in Big Trouble- Still – 11 December 2015
