The National Assembly of Venezuela on Tuesday approved the designation of new 20 members of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), the main judicial body of the country. Chosen among supporters of Nicolás Maduro’s government and among some of them authorized by the United States, they will hold their positions for the next 12 years.

The opposition again targeted the president, who again put a group of allies in those areas to control the supreme court, which over the past 23 years it has contributed to the strengthening of the power of Chavismo with unfavorable remarks for those critical of the ruling regime.

In any case, the National Assembly, of which he is a member God -given hairnumber two of Maduro, has ensured that the appointments of key magistrates and their successors are made under “strict compliance” with the laws.

“I greet and congratulate the Justices of the Supreme Court of Justice, authorities appointed by the National Assembly in accordance with the CRBV (Constitution) and laws. It is a new stage of renewal and promotion of the justice system for the welfare and peace of the people.”, Maduro said later via his Twitter account.

After the reform was approved in January, the number of justices comprising the Court’s seven chambers was reduced from 32 to 20. In 2004, the late President Hugo Chávez pushed for a Supreme Court law to expand the number of members from 20. to 32 and empower a simple majority of congressmen to remove and appoint judges.

Among those appointed Tuesday was Gladys Gutiérrez, a former justice and former president of the Supreme Court, who returned to the Constitutional Chamber. Also named was Tania D’Amelio, a former pro-government legislator He served as rector of the electoral body, an entity that has been repeatedly pointed out for its lack of transparency..

Luis Damiani, Calixto Ortega and Lourdes Suárez are repeating in the Constitutional Chamber, while Maikel Moreno, current president of the TSJ, is repeating in the Criminal Cassation Chamber.

Gutiérrez, D’Amelio, Damiani, Ortega, Suárez and Maikel Moreno appear on a list of more than 100 Venezuelan officials authorized by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for their alleged involvement in “gross human rights violations” and “weakening of democracy” in Venezuela, among other reasons.

Among the new members of the Court, José Gutiérrez Parra, brother of a dissident from an opposition party, who was appointed magistrate of the Civil Cassation Chamber, also stands out. In the Social Cassation Chamber, Elías Rubén Bitar, a lawyer and university professor associated with the opposition, is another of Maduro’s so -called exceptions or concessions. to appear plural.

The other magistrate Most of them are former government officials. repeating in their respective positions. Others have hardly changed opportunities, such as Malaquías Gil, who went from the Electoral Chamber to the Political-Administrative Chamber.

The appointment of new magistrates is part of “judicial revolution” ordered by Maduro last year and where reforms have been made to laws and regulations relating to detention centers and prison sentences.

Opposition Critics

“We condemn in national and international public opinion the imposition of the justices of the Supreme Court of Justice”Opposition leader Juan Guaidó said in a statement.

He added: “This fact is the latest sample of the lack of democracy in our countrymarked by the process of participation of quotas between the different power groups of the dictatorship ”.

International organizations such as Human Rights Watch have also criticized lack of judicial independence In Venezuela.

The opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ), of which two -time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles is a member, on Wednesday rejected the appointment of 20 justices of the Supreme Court of the National Assembly (AN, Parliament), with majority Chavista.

“The national board of directors of Primero Justicia ignores and rejects the process carried out by the angry National Assembly in the alleged dedication of TSJ magistrates, ”the group said in a statement posted on Twitter.

PJ affirmed that this process was marked by an internal “battle” by the official United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which made “the appointment of magistrates”distribution of quotas between different fractions of madurismunfortunately supported by a minority sector calling its own ‘opposition’ but actually in the service of the regime ”.

“We regret that the regime, once again, wasted the opportunity for all Venezuelans for a serious negotiation, including the facilitation of the international community, to achieve a Judicial Power in accordance with the need for justice of all of Venezuelan, “he added.

Primero Justicia argued that this does not mean “change” of the Venezuelan Judiciary and “especially the advancement in the definition of a genuine judicial reform that can be attached to the rule of law and respect for the Constitution.”

“What has happened today does not represent the majority of Venezuelans seeking justice and peace, deepening the lack of institutional conditions and separation of powers necessary for free elections, and that was denounced in the European Union report on November 2021 elections., ”He added.

With information from agencies

DB