CARACAS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly (ANC) announced on Monday that it will designate a commission to mull over a date for the next parliamentary elections.
ANC President Diosdado Cabello said the commission's aim is "to evaluate, according to the law, according to the Constitution, according to the political situation of our country, with consultations to all agencies, the people, the street as to when is the best time to hold these elections."
The proposal was approved by a majority during a special session "for peace" in the Legislative Palace, said Cabello, who will head the commission together with two other ANC members.
He said that the opposition-controlled National Assembly is the only body that has not been legitimized after the installation of the ANC two years ago, so the ANC has the "power to call an election of the National Assembly when it considers it appropriate."
Constitutionally, parliamentary elections are held every five years. The current National Assembly was elected in 2015 and is held in contempt by the Supreme Court of Justice due to the swearing in of three members accused of committing electoral crimes.
Since then, the National Assembly has attempted to establish a power parallel to that of the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
The president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, decided in January not to recognize Maduro, and declared himself "interim president" of the nation, sparking a lasting crisis in the country.
