2017 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuela

The 2017 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuela, generally known by its Spanish name Asamblea Nacional Constituyente or the abbreviation ANC, was a body convened by President Nicolás Maduro to draft a replacement for Venezuela's 1999 Constitution. Its election took place on 30 July 2017 amid a severe political crisis, mass anti-government demonstrations, institutional conflict, and disputes over the authority of the opposition-led National Assembly. The Democratic Unity Roundtable, the principal opposition coalition, boycotted the vote, arguing that the proposed assembly was designed to preserve the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela's hold on power rather than to create a broadly representative constitutional process. Because the opposition did not participate, candidates backed by the Great Patriotic Pole, dominated by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, won virtually all seats. The assembly first convened on 4 August 2017 at the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas. Delcy Rodríguez, a former foreign minister and communications minister, was elected its first president. Among its earliest actions was the removal of Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Díaz, who had broken with the Maduro government, and the appointment of Tarek William Saab as her replacement. The ANC subsequently created a Truth, Justice and Reparations Commission to examine violence and unrest associated with the 2017 protests. Critics argued that the commission and related measures were used to intimidate or prosecute opposition figures rather than to provide an impartial accountability process. On 8 August 2017, the assembly declared itself the supreme branch of government and prohibited the opposition-controlled National Assembly from taking actions that could interfere with its work. On 18 August it claimed authority to legislate and override the National Assembly in areas including peace, security, sovereignty, and economic and financial policy. The following day it effectively stripped the elected legislature of its lawmaking powers. The National Assembly rejected these measures and refused to recognize the ANC's authority, producing a sustained conflict between two competing institutions claiming constitutional legitimacy. The ANC also influenced elections and the political rights of opposition parties. After the December 2017 regional and municipal electoral disputes, it required parties that had boycotted certain elections to revalidate their legal status. In advance of the 2018 presidential election, it barred or restricted several major opposition parties, including Justice First, Democratic Action, and Popular Will. President Maduro further stated that governors elected in regional elections would have to submit to the ANC, reinforcing the assembly's role as a supervisory power over elected officials. Internationally, the body's legitimacy was heavily contested. More than forty countries, including the United States and several Latin American governments, condemned or refused to recognize the election. The European Union and the Holy See also declined to recognize the assembly's legitimacy. By contrast, governments allied with Caracas, including Bolivia, Cuba, China, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria, supported Maduro's position or opposed foreign intervention in Venezuela's internal affairs. Venezuelan polling cited in contemporary accounts indicated that a majority of respondents viewed the assembly negatively or considered it illegitimate. The assembly never completed the new constitution for which it had been elected. Its mandate was expected to end on 31 December 2020. On 15 December, President Diosdado Cabello announced that it would dissolve on 18 December, stating that it had completed its objectives other than drafting a new constitution. Maduro subsequently confirmed its closure at the end of 2020. The ANC is therefore remembered less as a successful constitutional convention than as an instrument in the Maduro government's consolidation of power and the displacement of Venezuela's elected opposition legislature.

The ANC emerged from Venezuela's prolonged confrontation between the Maduro administration and the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Maduro proposed a new constituent process in 2017 during a period marked by economic collapse, political polarization, and large-scale street protests. The proposal was presented as a route toward peace and institutional renewal, while opponents argued that it bypassed the electorate and sought to replace an inconvenient legislature. The election was held on 30 July 2017. The Democratic Unity Roundtable boycotted the process, maintaining that the electoral rules were structured to favor government supporters and that the assembly lacked a legitimate mandate. Government-aligned candidates consequently dominated the results. The election was criticized by more than forty countries and other international actors, who questioned both the process and the assembly's constitutional basis. The body convened on 4 August at the Federal Legislative Palace. Delcy Rodríguez became its first president. The ANC's initial actions immediately demonstrated that it would function not only as a constitutional drafting body but also as a rival center of political authority. On its first working day it removed Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Díaz, who had publicly challenged Maduro, and appointed Tarek William Saab. Ortega Díaz and her husband, German Ferrer, later left Venezuela after the government pursued allegations against them. The assembly established a Truth, Justice and Reparations Commission in August 2017 to investigate deaths and violence connected to the protests. Its remit and operations were disputed by opposition groups and human-rights advocates. The commission also indicated that opposition candidates could be investigated for possible involvement in unrest. Around Christmas 2017, Delcy Rodríguez announced the release of eighty prisoners, while nongovernmental reporting cited hundreds of people detained as political prisoners during that period. On 8 August, the ANC declared itself Venezuela's supreme governmental branch and sought to prevent the National Assembly from adopting measures that could obstruct its work. On 18 August, it claimed authority to legislate and override the National Assembly in matters relating to security, sovereignty, peace, and the socioeconomic and financial system. The next day it removed the elected legislature's practical legislative authority. The National Assembly rejected the declaration, and Venezuela thereafter operated amid overlapping claims of institutional legitimacy. The ANC also intervened in the electoral system. In October 2017, Maduro said that governors elected in the regional elections would have to recognize and submit to the ANC. The assembly subsequently demanded that parties which had boycotted certain elections reapply for legal recognition. This decision affected major opposition organizations and helped shape the restricted field for the 2018 presidential election. Delcy Rodríguez became vice president of Venezuela in June 2018 and was succeeded as ANC president by Diosdado Cabello. Under Cabello, the assembly continued to operate as a political and legislative authority without producing the promised replacement constitution. In 2019, it took action against Juan Guaidó by stripping his parliamentary immunity, prompting strong international criticism. The body's legitimacy remained divided. Venezuela's opposition, the European Union, the Holy See, and numerous American and European governments rejected it. Several governments aligned with Caracas recognized or supported the process and opposed outside intervention. Domestic polling cited in contemporary accounts showed that most respondents either held a negative view of the assembly or regarded it as illegal and illegitimate. The assembly's mandate was expected to expire at the end of 2020. On 15 December, Cabello announced that it would dissolve on 18 December because it had fulfilled its objectives apart from drafting a constitution. Maduro confirmed its closure at the end of the year. No new constitution was adopted, leaving the 1999 Constitution formally in place while the ANC's principal historical effect was the temporary displacement of the opposition National Assembly and the further concentration of power within the Maduro government.

• 2020

  Dissolution

  [1]2017 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuelaen.wikipedia.org

  The assembly announced its closure in December without completing a new constitution.

• 2018

  Presidency passes to Diosdado Cabello

  [1]2017 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuelaen.wikipedia.org

  Delcy Rodríguez left the assembly presidency after becoming vice president, and Diosdado Cabello succeeded her.

• 2017

  Constituent assembly election

  [1]2017 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuelaen.wikipedia.org

  The assembly was elected on 30 July after the principal opposition coalition boycotted the vote.

• 2017

  First sitting

  [1]2017 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuelaen.wikipedia.org

  The ANC convened at the Federal Legislative Palace on 4 August.

• 2017

  Supremacy declaration

  [1]2017 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuelaen.wikipedia.org

  The assembly declared itself the supreme branch of government on 8 August and later displaced the National Assembly's legislative authority.

A state constitutional and legislative body presented by the Maduro government as a mechanism for peace, constitutional reform, and political reorganization, but viewed by the opposition and many foreign governments as an unelected instrument for concentrating executive power.

• 2019

  Removal of Juan Guaidó's parliamentary immunity

  The assembly's action against Guaidó was condemned by the European Union as a serious violation of Venezuela's constitution, the rule of law, and separation of powers.

  Source

• 2017

  Disputed election and legitimacy

  The election was boycotted by the main opposition coalition and condemned by more than forty countries, which challenged the representativeness and constitutional legitimacy of the resulting assembly.

  Source

• 2017

  Removal of the chief prosecutor

  The ANC removed Luisa Ortega Díaz shortly after convening and replaced her with Tarek William Saab, an action viewed by opponents as an assault on prosecutorial independence.

  Source

• 2017

  Institutional displacement of the National Assembly

  The ANC claimed supreme authority and stripped the opposition-led legislature of effective legislative powers, prompting accusations of authoritarian power concentration.

  Source

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• 2017Truth, Justice and Reparations Commission

  Venezuela

  The ANC created a commission to investigate violence and unrest associated with the 2017 protests. Its mandate was presented as a search for truth and reparations, but critics viewed it as a mechanism for investigating and pressuring opposition activists and candidates.

  Outcome. The commission announced the release of eighty prisoners around Christmas 2017, while broader concerns about political detention and impartiality remained.

  Source

• 2019

  Stripping of Juan Guaidó's parliamentary immunityOther

  Background

  Guaidó had become the leading figure of the opposition's challenge to Maduro.

  Action taken

  The ANC authorized the removal of Guaidó's parliamentary immunity.

  Aftermath

  The European Union condemned the measure as incompatible with constitutional government and separation of powers.

  Source

• 2017

  Removal and replacement of the chief prosecutorOther

  Background

  Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Díaz had become an outspoken critic of the Maduro government's handling of the political crisis.

  Action taken

  The ANC removed Ortega Díaz and appointed Tarek William Saab as attorney general.

  Aftermath

  Ortega Díaz fled Venezuela, and the measure intensified domestic and international criticism of the assembly.

  Source

• 2017

  Assertion of supreme governmental authorityStrategy

  Background

  The ANC operated alongside an opposition-controlled National Assembly whose authority the Maduro government disputed.

  Action taken

  It declared itself the supreme branch and claimed power to override the National Assembly in specified policy areas.

  Aftermath

  The National Assembly refused recognition, creating a prolonged institutional dual-power conflict.

  Source

• 2017

  Restrictions on governors and political partiesOther

  Background

  The government sought to make elected officials and parties acknowledge the ANC's authority.

  Action taken

  Maduro stated that elected governors had to submit to the ANC, while the assembly required parties that had boycotted elections to revalidate their legal status.

  Aftermath

  Several prominent opposition parties were excluded or restricted in the 2018 presidential election.

  Source

1. 12017 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuelaen.wikipedia.org