Venezuela swears in new National Assembly for 2026–2031 term

Venezuela inaugurated its new National Assembly for the 2026–2031 legislative period, in a session marked by an expanded parliamentary composition and the participation of figures from both the ruling party and opposition factions. The ceremony took place at the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas, where members of parliament were formally sworn in to assume their mandates for the five-year term.

A key feature of the inaugural session was the attendance of prominent opposition leaders, including Henrique Capriles, Stalin González, Henry Falcón, Antonio Ecarri, and Pablo Pérez, all of whom took their oaths to assume their parliamentary seats. Their presence underscored the symbolic significance of the event, amid a political climate marked by deep divisions and ongoing questions regarding the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process, El Colombiano reports.

The session also featured the entry of Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, son of President Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in as an MP. His arrival included symbolic gestures, notably a raised fist, during his formal introduction in the legislative chamber.

The new Assembly comprises 285 members, considerably surpassing the 167 seats stipulated by the Venezuelan Constitution. Both the expansion in the number of seats and the opaque allocation process have drawn sharp criticism from various political sectors and civil organizations, which have pointed to irregularities in the voting procedures and the absence of detailed, verifiable results from the National Electoral Council (CNE).

The inauguration coincided with internal leadership adjustments within the ruling party. Delcy Rodríguez was appointed as interim president, while her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, was sworn in once again as president of the Assembly. Both have held senior public offices for more than two decades, alternating responsibilities across the state apparatus.

The newly elected lawmakers formally assumed their functions, marking the start of the legislative period amid persistent debates over the Assembly’s legitimacy and the institutional authority of the body in the current Venezuelan political landscape.

By Vafa Guliyeva