Parliamentary Elections in Venezuela.

After the election and the final vote count, the opposition obtained 112 positions (109 for the Democratic Unity Table and 3 for indigenous representation) of the 167 deputies of the National Assembly, while the national government, through the Great Polo Patriotico, obtained the remaining 55 positions, which meant losing the parliamentary majority held for 15 years.

After knowing these results, 12 magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) requested their early retirement in a framework of little institutional clarity. This gave rise to the outgoing National Assembly (with a majority of deputies related to the government) appointing the new judges of the highest judicial institution in Venezuela.

The Supreme Court of Justice suspended a group of elected indigenous deputies.

By accepting a writ of protection that asked to annul the results of the elections in the state of Amazonas, the highest court annulled the proclamation of a group of indigenous parliamentarians from this region, considering that their appointment was the product of vote manipulation, and the alleged violation of the constitutional rights to vote and political participation.

Although the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice was provisional and was subject to the outcome of due judicial process, it raised concerns about leaving indigenous peoples without representation in the National Assembly.

The Supreme Court of Justice declared the National Assembly in contempt.

The Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) dismissed the authority and declared null the actions of the new composition of the National Assembly, considering it an act of contempt to accept the oath of the three previously suspended deputies and not respect the decision ordered by the highest court.

The decision to limit the exercise of the Assembly was reiterated on August 1 and September 2, 2016 by the Supreme Court, and led to it assuming multiple powers assigned to the Legislative Power in the National Constitution, such as declaring itself the competent authority to control the national budget, and to receive the memory and account of the President, or create mixed public companies.

The Supreme Court of Justice lifted the parliamentary immunity of opposition deputies.

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice adopted decisions 155 and 156, which extended its power over several competencies of the Legislative Branch and suspended the powers of the National Assembly. It granted extensive discretionary powers to the Executive Branch.

These actions provoked 4 months of massive protests throughout the country.

These popular demonstrations in rejection of the institutional crisis were violently repressed by the State security forces and armed civilian groups and left 133 people dead, 4 thousand wounded, more than 5 thousand arbitrarily detained and 600 civilians brought before the military criminal jurisdiction.

The President renewed his mandate as established by the Constitution.

He was reelected in a framework of abstentions, lack of pluralism and electoral irregularities.

The presidential oath of office was taken before the Supreme Court of Justice, and not before the National Assembly, as required by the Constitution, because it was accused of "contempt".

Irregularities in the process of parliamentary elections.

By means of two judicial rulings, the TSJ decided to intervene the Acción Democrática and Primero Justicia parties, two of the main opposition political parties. In both cases it suspended their boards of directors, and appointed ad hoc boards, which were authorized to use the electoral card, logo, symbols, emblems, colors and any other concept of the parties.