CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuelan authorities over the weekend admonished the opposition-run National Assembly for reinstating three lawmakers banned over fraud accusations, heightening the power conflict in the crisis-hit OPEC nation.
In Thursday’s session, the National Assembly voted to welcome back three opposition legislators from the southern jungle state of Amazonas. The government-leaning Supreme Court had suspended them in January pending a probe of allegations of vote-buying.
Rejecting criticism that it is dragging its feet on the case, the Supreme Court said yesterday it was currently collecting evidence and stressed its decisions should be respected. It is unclear when it may issue a ruling in the case. Also over the weekend, the office of the Attorney General called on the National Assembly to remove the three lawmakers, warning the body was otherwise in contempt of court.
