The Supreme Court of Venezuela has declared unconstitutional legislation for the amnesty law being passed by opposition-controlled congress to free dozens of politicians in jail who are known to be opponents of the president.
According to Salon, foes of President Nicolas Maduro won't be looking to see freedom soon as the decision on Monday thwarted the amnesty law filed by the opposition-controlled congress. The decision is said to be expected as Maduro already criticized the law as an attempt to destabilize his rule and pardon activists he blamed during the protest that happened in 2014. The court ruled that the legislation could not stand because it allowed for impunity, which is also the word used by Maduro when he attacked the proposal months ago.
ABC News reported that the congressional leaders are demanding that the bill be enacted despite the ruling from what they see as a lapdog court. However, many thinks that will be unlikely since the Supreme Court's ruling has been established.
One of the known individuals who can be freed by the amnesty law is Leopoldo Lopez. He led the 2014 anti-government protests that eventually lead to dozens of death. He has been locked for 14-year sentence for being allegedly guilty of instigating the violence during the protests.
KSL wrote that the legislation is a promise by the government during the 2015 legislative race that gave the opposition control of congress for the first time in decades. The opposition-controlled congress did try to promise that they will free the activists from prison time, but made sure that it is their first priority. This is also the latest and first major piece of legislation which the new congress tried to pass. Other government from foreign countries also supported the congress' legislation.
The Supreme Court of Venezuela has rejected almost all congressional actions this year with overturning moves against limiting the president's powers. Furthermore, the Supreme Court practices in preventing the congress from taking control over institutions and other lawmakers from taking seats. The next move for the Venezuela congressional leaders is to make a recall election for the president to try and reshape the highest court.
