Constituent assembly plan compounds Venezuela crisis

Significance

In response to anti-government demonstrations, President Nicolas Maduro on May 1 unveiled plans to convene a national constituent assembly to advance state reforms and a national peace ‘agenda’. The Organization of American States (OAS) has been critical of Maduro's handling of the crisis prompting Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez to announce on April 26 that Venezuela will be leaving the regional body.

Impacts

• The constituent assembly proposal will spur further MUD street mobilisation and enhance the unity and cohesion of the opposition alliance.
• Caracas will be pro-active in pursuing supportive statements from other regional organisations to offset the influence of the OAS.
• There will be sustained internal and external pressure for an election timetable.