Venezuelan Opposition Intends to Defy Supreme Court

Right-wing politicians in Venezuela said Wednesday they intend to defy the Supreme Court ruling that suspended the swearing in of four newly elected parliamentarians, and will have the candidates attempt to take office Jan. 5.

The electoral chamber of the Supreme Court accepted a request Wednesday to challenge the legitimacy of the results in three states. The court further accepted a petition for an emergency precautionary measure in the state of Amazonas, that temporarily prevents the swearing in of three opposition candidates and one socialist candidate elected Dec. 6, 2015.

In a press release, the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable, known as the MUD, criticized the court's ruling using unambiguous and severely critical language.

"The unusual decision of the Supreme Court, which leaves no parliamentary representation for all Amazonas state, is a declaration of rebellion of the defeated bureaucracy in the face of the legitimate decision of the people," read a MUD press release.

The MUD statement said the coalition intends to present all of their winning candidates Jan. 5 for the swearing in ceremony, a move that could prompt a conflict between the judicial and legislative branch of government.

The MUD, however, denied that their defiance of the Supreme Court constituted a clash between powers. In the statement, the right-wing coalition called on Venezuelans to join them as they attempt to flout the ruling and have the temporarily suspended candidates assume office.

ANALYSIS: What to Expect from a Counterrevolutionary National Assembly in Venezuela

The court's decision did not specify the reasons for upholding the challenge, but some Venezuelan leaders have made allegations about vote buying in certain districts.

Wednesday's decision does not immediately annul the results in the aforementioned states. However, the court could ultimately annul the results of it deems the process illegitimate and could call for fresh elections in those states.

The court did not specify the reasons for upholding the challenge, but the electoral chamber is tasked with ensuring that elections are legitimate. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had previously said that voting in some regions may have been affected through vote buying, which is legally prohibited.

Should the court find that the elections in the state of Amazonas were fraudulent, new elections would need to be held.

The precautionary measure issued by the court does, however, prevent the MUD from controlling two-thirds of the National Assembly, which would grant them greater powers to impede the government's agenda.