Venezuela prepares world summit to defend new legislative body
Source: Reuters
#WORLD NEWS AUGUST 21, 2017 / 10:46 AM / 12 MINUTES AGO
Venezuela prepares world summit to defend new legislative body
Diego Oré
3 MIN READ
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela is preparing an international summit to rally support for an all-powerful lawmaking body, whose recent creation drew widespread foreign condemnation as a power grab by leftist President Nicolas Maduro.
Late last month, and in the face of anti-government street protests, Venezuela elected a 545-member constituent assembly at the behest of Maduro.
On Friday the assembly granted itself lawmaking powers. It was the latest blow to an opposition-controlled congress whose decisions have been nullified by Maduro's loyalist Supreme Court.
The United States slapped Maduro and a number of Venezuela leaders with sanctions, and U.S. President Donald Trump said military action was among the options he was considering for Venezuela.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKCN1B11PG