The National Constituent Assembly (ANC), which is controlled by the ruling party, established on August 12 a Special Committee to evaluate the possibility of bringing forward the elections for the National Assembly. The National Assembly is the country’s constitutionally mandated legislative power and is presided over by Juan Guaidó. 

The Committee, on which will sit María Alejandra Díaz, Francisco Ameliach and Diosdado Cabello, is expected to make a decision in the coming days. The countries of the Lima Group sided with Guaidó in criticizing the move, stating that any decision to bring forward the elections would be “another example of a violation of democratic norms and of the Venezuelan Constitution”.

The National Assembly has 167 seats, all of which are renewed every five years. Its current constitutional period runs from 2016-2021.