A reform of the Transition Statute that gives legal life to the interim period proposes eliminating this figure and granting a different role to the Parliament elected in 2015, which would now focus on defending Venezuela’s assets abroad. They need the 83 votes that constitute the simple majority in plenary after submitting the reform to two discussions, having to face the Popular Will coalition that is committed to maintaining the interim government
Deputies of the National Assembly (AN) elected in 2015 who are active in the parties Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT), Primero Justicia (PJ), Acción Democrática (AD) and Movimiento por Venezuela (MPV) propose a reform of the Statute that Governs the Transition to Democracy —a legal instrument that until now has justified the validity of the interim government led by Juan Guaidó—, which would imply the elimination of the interim period and a change in the functioning of Parliament to now focus on the protection of assets abroad.
In a press conference called by these four parties, the deputy Alfonso Marquina, member of PJ, explained that the reform proposes to eliminate the figure of the interim governmentbut maintaining the activity of the AN elected in 2015, which would extend for three more years than the five years established by the Constitution, arguing that the AN elected in 2020 administered by Chavismo is unconstitutional.
The Parliament, however, would have more specific functions and would focus mainly on the defense of Venezuelan assets abroad, since countries like the United States, the United Kingdom or Portugal maintain blocked assets of the country that were in the hands of Chavismo.
In this sense, one of the functions of this new structure of Parliament, if the reform of the Transition Statute is approved, would be to maintain the ad hoc boards of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) —which defends the interests of the State over Citgo in the United States. — and the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) —which watches over the state gold guarded in the United Kingdom— and coordinate them through the creation of an executive commission that focuses specifically on the defense of assets.
“The elimination of the entire interim government is proposed, with the exception of three instances necessary for the defense of the assets: the ad hoc board of Pdvsa Holding, the ad hoc board of the BCV and an executive commission that expands its functions not only to administer expenses, but also to represent and defend the assets. The AN will only be maintained to legislate on all matters related to the protection and defense of assets abroad,” explained Marquina.
On the other hand, the AN is also expected to maintain and ensure programs created during the last four years, such as Heroes of Democracy, a platform that brings together social and political activists with the intention of strengthening the opposition movement.
Marquina affirms that the existence of the interim has caused the focus to be lost, since the purpose was never to maintain this figure, but to use it as a tool to achieve political change, a strategy that after four years has not worked.
«It cannot be that we intend to maintain an increasingly weakened strategy, which does not achieve its objectives. The objectives are focused on the defense of assets abroad and achieve electoral conditions in unity. The interim government is not the raison d’être of the democratic struggle, but rather it was a necessary instrument to achieve international dialogue,” he said.
The representative of the yellow awning emphasized that the executive commission and ad hoc boards must be autonomous and independent to respect the separation of powers, for which he committed both his party and the organizations that accompanied the press conference, to work to depoliticize these instances and delegate people with the necessary qualifications and aptitudes to direct these asset management and defense processes.
*Read also: Nicmer Evans calls for an end to the interim and for assets abroad to be guarded
The approach of these four parties contrasts with a proposal made by Guaidó himself just two days ago, who called an extraordinary session this Thursday, December 22 to discuss a partial reform of the Statute Governing the Transition to Democracy, but in this case with the purpose of seeking the extension of the validity of this legal instrument, remembering that the legality of the interim period governs.
ask you @jguaido convenes session before the @assemblyVE to discuss the proposal to extend the validity of the Transition Statute https://t.co/jp2qvArASd pic.twitter.com/T3FzlqlGfs
– National Communication Center (@Presidencia_VE) December 19, 2022
Guaidó’s reform establishes that “the constitutional continuity of the National Legislative Power will be exercised by the National Assembly elected on December 6, 2015, which will function through the Delegate Commission for up to 12 continuous months from January 5, 2023 or until, within that period, the constitutional and democratic order is restored.
*Read also: Guaidó seeks consensus to extend the Transition Statute and interim in 2023
Internship against G3
For this reform to be approved, it will need to be discussed in two sessions before the end of the year. The first is scheduled for this Thursday, December 22. The votes of 83 parliamentarians will be required to reach a simple majority.
The 83 votes could be a challenge for the proposal to proceed, however, three of the four parties that make up the so-called G4 support the reform. At the head is Voluntad Popular, who protects the leadership of the interim and is committed to its validity.
Other parties such as Avanzada Progresista or La Causa Radical will have to establish a position around approving or rejecting the proposal when the plenary is called. The latter, under the spokesperson for Andrés Velásquez, has already taken sides and will support the continuity of the interim, according to advanced on his Twitter account.
As befits La Causa R, it will vote for the continuity of the interim government.
— Andres Velasquez (@AndresVelasqz) December 21, 2022
The document that includes the reform proposal was signed by the following PJ deputies: Luis Lippa, Marcos Bozo, María Gabriela Hernández, María Beatriz Martínez, Antonio Avilio Troconis, Elimar Díaz, Amelia Belizario, Carlos Andrés Michelangeli, Ángel Medina, Milagros Paz , Gregorio Graterol, Alfonso Marquina, Juan Pablo Guanipa, José Manuel Olivares, Carlos Paparoni, Milagros Valera, Julio Borges, Miguel Pizarro, Tomás Guanipa, Juan García Manaure, Dinora Figuera, Jorge Millán, José Guerra, Juan Miguel Matheus, Jhonny Rajal, Sandra Flores de Garzón, Leonardo Renó, Fátima Suárez, Alejandra Peña, Juan Requesens (Karim Vera signed as his substitute) and Eduardo Marín.
On behalf of AD, signed Luis Carlos Padilla, Oneida Guaipo, José Trujillo, Andrés Eloy Camejo, Luis Silva, José Ricardo Salazar, Carlos Lozano, Rodney Flores, Henry Ramos Allup, Eliezer Sirit, Edgar Zambrano, William Dávila, Luis Aquiles Moreno, Piero Maroun, Tobías Bolívar, Robert Alcalá, Carlos Andrés González, Milagros Sánchez, Juan Carlos Velazco and Gladys Guaipo.
Regarding UNT, the signatories were Omar Barboza, Nora Bracho, William Barrientos, Idilio Abreu, Jesús Paparoni, Orlando Ávila, Luis Emilio Rondón, Marianela Fernández, Virgilio Ferrer, Julio Igarza, Nirma Guarulla, Manuel Texeira, Luis Florido, Elías Mata , Hector Vargas, Armando Lopez and Led Silva. Complete the list of 69 names MVP parliamentarian José Simón Calzadilla.
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