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Venezuela Congress Hands Opposition Majority After Scuffles

  • Police, national guard initially blocked entrance to congress
  • Government pushes last-minute regulations of central bank, FX
Venezuelan opposition supporters rally in front of the the National Assembly in Caracas, on Jan. 5, in support of their newly elected deputies the day of their installation. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro ordered the security forces to ensure the swearing-in of a new opposition-dominated legislature passes off peacefully Tuesday, after calls for rallies raised fears of unrest.

Venezuelan opposition supporters rally in front of the the National Assembly in Caracas, on Jan. 5, in support of their newly elected deputies the day of their installation. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro ordered the security forces to ensure the swearing-in of a new opposition-dominated legislature passes off peacefully Tuesday, after calls for rallies raised fears of unrest.

Photographer: RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images
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The first day of congress in a Latin American country typically would be pretty uneventful. Not in Venezuela.

The majority in the National Assembly passed to opposition lawmakers for the first time in 16 years after newly elected deputies were sworn in Tuesday. Police officers and national guardsman scuffled with some legislators and initially barred them from entering the building in Caracas, before relenting and allowing the ceremony to proceed.