The Venezuelan National Assembly (AN), led by Juan Guaidó, passed Tuesday, February 5, a bill that establishes the mechanisms for the country’s transition to a democratic government. The key features of the measure are the granting to Guaidó – as interim president of the country – of a period of between 30 days and 12 months to call new presidential elections and the renewal of authorities in the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) and the National Electoral Council (CNE), two institutions that are currently under the control of Nicolás Maduro.

The law provides for the re-establishment of the Venezuelan Constitution in three stages: the liberation from the “autocratic regime that oppresses Venezuela,” the formation of a provisional government and the holding of free elections. According to the document, once the interim president assumes control of the Executive branch, he must form a national unity government and call for elections within 30 days. Should this prove technically impossible, the NA may ratify the interim president as provisional president of Venezuela. He would thus have up to twelve months to call new elections.

“This is a historical document for the country, which gives it a framework and an order for the transition to a stable government,” Guaidó said. Along the same lines, anti-Chávez legislator Juan Matheus (Democratic Unity Table) stated that the CNE must be reformed “so that there are free elections, which is what people want”.