A rigged election is not uncommon, but in Venezuela, extreme measures have been taken to ensure that the opposition party, despite winning the votes of the public, will not overturn the government, especially considering that three lawmakers in their posts were supposedly suspended from the legislation.

The Daily Mail said it has been ruled that any decisions made by the Venezuelan government shall be considered null as three suspended lawmakers remain in their posts, said the Supreme Court.

The deciding body said in a statement on Monday, "We declare the absolute nullity of the National Assembly's decisions which have been or will be taken until these lawmaker continue to be part of the deputies."

Three lawmakers in Amazonas began their work in the new parliament, despite the ruling of the Supreme Court that is investigating into electoral irregularities in Venezuela. According to Sputnik News, the new opposition-controlled parliament, currently headed by Henry Ramos Allup, has gained majority for the first time in 17 years in the December 2015 elections, gaining a total of two-thirds of their seats in the National Assembly.

The ruling angered members of the opposition, who said that by barring them to do the work required of their posts, the Supreme Court is stealing away their historic legislative win.

One of the members of the opposition, Freddy Guevara, denounced the order of the court, saying, "We will not cede one iota of the power that the people of Venezuela gave us."

However, Diosdado Cabello, who was head of Congress until last week, said that the opposition party should take the court's ruling seriously, and hold a session to remove three of their lawmakers. Still, he doubts that they will do so, saying "I doubt that they actually will, because we know how enormously arrogant the new leaders of the National Assembly are; they are full of hate, bitterness and a desire for revenge."

Lawmakers have also been in the process of debating a law that could potentially give amnesty to jailed opposition leaders who have been considered by human rights groups as political prisoners.

A congressional committee has also been formed to look into the irregularities of the rush appointment of 13 Supreme Court judges just after the legislative elections, as they were said to be proof that the court itself is rigged.

BBC noted, however, that Venezuela's Supreme Court has almost always ruled in favor of the government since the rule of Hugo Chavez, and now, Nicolas Maduro.