Venezuela: Court orders papers on parliament head vote

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Venezuela's top court ordered the country's new parliament speaker to submit the necessary documents showing his recent election to the post.

In a press release, the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) asked Luis Parra and his vice-speakers Franklin Duarte and Jose Gregorio Noriega on Monday to issue a report on the "parliamentary act of formation of the new Board of Directors and the quorum of the session made on Jan. 5."

The TSJ allowed a five-day deadline for the delivery of the documents.

These documents will be critical in determining who will hold the post, as the specific number of votes Parra received was not officially made public.

Parra's rival, Juan Guaido, had held a separate vote outside the National Assembly after he and his supporters were blocked from entering the parliament building while the election was taking place.

The supreme court has declared both he and Parra would enjoy legal immunity, but did not order Guaido to provide official documentation of the votes he received. Guaido alleges he had received 100 votes during his separate vote, though this was not officially recognized.

Ending the term of his rival Juan Guaido, dissident opposition legislator Parra was elected speaker of the National Assembly in a parliamentary vote on Jan. 5 with the backing of pro-government lawmakers.

Later, opposition diplomats held a separate election, where they chose Guaido to lead the National Assembly and stormed the Assembly on Jan. 7.

Guaido, who declared himself interim president in early 2019 has been engaged in a year-long power battle with elected President Nicolas Maduro.