Venezuela Opposition Legislators Stand Down in Power Struggle with Supreme Court

Suspended Venezuelan opposition MPs give up their seats in a bid to end a deadlock between Congress and the Supreme Court after the latter declared all decisions from the so-called 'superpower-majority' null and void.

A report from BBC featured statements from the three legislators who sacrificed their seats, but remained firm on their cause, saying that they "completely reject" the court's ruling.

Their goal, based on a letter read during the assembly, was to "help free parliament from the institutional ambush" that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his supporters have prepared.

According to The Guardian, the gridlock began when the three MPs were sworn into office by National Assembly Speaker and opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup, despite a court order for a probe due to alleged voting irregularities in the legislative election held on December 6 of last year.

"Decisions taken or to be taken by the National Assembly while these citizens are incorporated will be absolutely null," the Supreme Court said on Monday via Reuters, referring to the three MPs suspected in electoral fraud.

Reuters further noted how the opposition described such move as an authoritarian measure to "immobilize the National Assembly," and even compared it to Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori's move that closed the country's legislative body back in 1992.

Obviously unhappy with the sacrifice, Allup still lauded his comrades' decision to leave the legislature for the National Assembly to proceed with its responsibilities.

"Sometimes you have to sacrifice some things to save others," the Guardian quoted him saying in 'an uncharacteristically conciliatory tone.'

Diosdado Cabello, the former assembly president and a leading pro-government deputy, and other pro-government lawmakers were happy with what happened, and even dubbed the turnaround as "victory for the people."

"We face a new scenario now. Fortunately for the country [the opposition] backed off," he explained.

The three opposition members as well as one pro-government legislator were linked to voting irregularities during the December 6 legislative election that paved the way for what the press is now calling a "superpower-majority."

With an unexpected landslide win, the opposition was able to take control of the National Assembly for the first time in 17 years.

However, President Maduro remained resolute in his previous statement that he would "defend democracy with an iron hand" and promised that the opposition "will not make me give ground or waver."

According to The Guardian, Maduro's next move would most probably be to present an "emergency package" to his contenders in order to salvage what remains of the once-fruitful economy of Venezuela.