Venezuela has lurched further away from democracy – and closer to confrontation with its regional neighbours – after the pro-government supreme court assumed the legislative powers of the opposition-controlled Congress.

Judges ruled that lawmakers were in contempt of court because they were holding up efforts to revive the crisis-stricken economy. Opposition congressmen decried the move by the justices as a step towards dictatorship.

In protest, Peru recalled its ambassador to Caracas and promised to step up efforts to eject Venezuela from the Organisation of American States for what it called a “flagrant breach of democratic order”.

President Nicolás Maduro lost control of Congress in December 2015 when voters – angry about soaring inflation, rising poverty and shortages of medicines and basic commodities – inflicted a heavy legislative election defeat on the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.