Venezuelan Assembly Attempting to Name New Supreme Court Judges

In an extraordinary sitting of the National Assembly Tuesday, the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) tried to name new Supreme Court judges, but wasn’t able to achieve the supermajority necessary for the measure.

The right-wing opposition in Venezuela had been very critical of the possible designation of new judges, despite it likely that once swearing-in on Jan. 5 and having a supermajority, they would do the same thing, or nullify the move by the PSUV.

OPINION: Venezuela’s Future

Current head of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, had named 13 new possible judges out of a total of 32, as well as 21 substitutes. Judges are elected for 12 years, but can be removed with a two-thirds majority of the assembly, or new ones named after the 12 year period. The Supreme Court has the power to rule if there are grounds to impeach the president, vice president, ministers, and other positions.

The PSUV has just 98 legislators, some 14 short of a supermajority but easily a simple majority. The constitution states however that after two attempts at a two-thirds vote to change a judge, only a simple majority is required on the third vote. The assembly sat twice Tuesday, putting the new appointments to the vote twice. It will sit again from 9:00 a.m. local time tomorrow, where the list of new judges will likely be passed.

A key final approval of the progressive Seed Law—aimed at preventing the commercialization of GMO seeds in the country—was postponed, possibly until Wednesday, when the assembly will continue to sit. A law for dignified birthing will also likely be discussed Wednesday.

No se consigue la mayoria calificada para designar los Magistrados y Magistradas al Tribunal Supremo de Justicia.

— ASAMBLEA NACIONAL (@SecretariaAN) December 23, 2015

“A supermajority wasn’t achieved in order to designate the Supreme Court judges”