The South American country’s four main opposition parties boycotted the parliamentary vote, arguing conditions for a free and fair election were not met. Venezuela’s opposition-held National Assembly on Saturday approved a statute extending its term into 2021, after a disputed Dec. 6 election in which allies of President Nicolas Maduro’s ruling socialist party won 91% of the seats in Congress. “Despite threats from the dictatorship and intimidation from the regime, the parliament will continue in this extraordinary period,” Guaido said on Saturday. The statute provides for a small group of legislators to carry out the National Assembly’s functions. The socialist-controlled Congress is scheduled to be sworn in on Jan 5, 2021

Source: The Hindu December 26, 2020 21:00 UTC