Venezuelas National Assembly chief rejects idea of a new presidential election

Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez stated that the country will not hold presidential elections in the immediate future. In an interview published on Newsmax, Rodriguez emphasized that the government’s current focus is on national stability.

Rodriguez explained that the decision not to hold elections is tied to a broader effort to rebuild and strengthen Venezuela’s state institutions. He described this process as “re-institutionalisation,” aiming to restore full power and recognition to all country institutions.

The interview took place after the US military operation that abducted President Nicolas Maduro on January 3. Since then, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been appointed acting president by the Venezuelan Supreme Court, with support from various parties and the US.

Rodriguez stated that the current government would need to reach an agreement with all sectors of the opposition to create a timetable for new elections. He rejected assertions that the 2024 presidential election was not legitimate, instead emphasizing his push for national unity.

The National Assembly has been working on a mass amnesty law, which aims to release political prisoners and forgive crimes related to political dissent since 1999. The bill has been approved unanimously in one of its votes and is expected to pass this week.

However, questions remain about the potential impact of the amnesty law on opposition leaders accused of violent crimes. Rodriguez indicated that the law would not apply to those individuals, suggesting they should comply with the law to return to Venezuela.

Source: Al Jazeera