Venezuela’s Assembly Votes to Extend Term, Challenges Maduro

Venezuela’s opposition-dominated National Assembly voted to continue meeting beyond its five-year term that ends Jan. 5, giving the nation two competing legislative bodies after members boycotted the congressional election pushed by autocrat Nicolas Maduro.

The move paves the way for opposition leader Juan Guaido to remain as the “president in charge,” though lawmakers voted to impose more checks and balances on his power. The assembly also approved the reform of a legislative statute, which says Guaido and the Parliament will seek free presidential and congressional elections to resolve the country’s political crisis.