Venezuela’s political crisis deepened Friday as the controversial constitutional assembly declared that it is the country’s sole legislative body, essentially dissolving the democratically elected congress. “All public bodies are subordinated to the National Constitutional Assembly,” said Delcy Rodriguez, the body’s president. All of the candidates — and all 545 delegates who were elected — are loyal to the president. “The annulment will not be respected by the National Assembly, the international community or the people” of Venezuela, he said. Gen. Luisa Ortega Diaz, who prior to the July 30 vote declared the new assembly unconstitutional because it was not first authorized by a public plebiscite.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 18, 2017 23:46 UTC