New head for Venezuela's opposition-controlled Congress is sworn in for 2017

Record ID: 163161

  • Title: New head for Venezuela's opposition-controlled Congress is sworn in for 2017
  • Date: 5th January 2017
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JANUARY 5, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE CONGRESS WORKERS PROTESTING OUTSIDE CONGRESS, CHANTING: "WE WANT TO GET PAID" BANNER THAT READS: ''PAY ME FOR MY CHRISTMAS BILLS" WORKERS WITH SIGNS, PROTESTING OUTSIDE CONGRESS VARIOUS OF POLICE OUTSIDE VENUE PEOPLE SPEAKING WITH POLICE GENERAL OF INTERIOR OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY JULIO BORGES NEW HEAD OF VENEZUELA CONGRESS, NEXT TO OUTGOING HENRY RAMOS VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER AND GOVERNOR OF MIRANDA STATE HENRIQUE CAPRILES (CENTRE, BLUE TIE), WITH OPPOSITION MEMBERS VARIOUS OF CAPRILES (BLUE TIE) AT CONGRESS VARIOUS OF ARRIVAL OF LILIAN TINTORI (WHITE BLOUSE), WIFE OF JAILED VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER LEOPOLDO LOPEZ GENERAL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AHEAD OF SESSION
  • Embargoed: 20th January 2017 16:54
  • Keywords: election leaders National Assembly Venezuela
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015XT1EF7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Opposition legislator, Julio Borges, was sworn in as the new president of Venezuela's Congress on Thursday (January 5) in capital Caracas.
    Borges, from the Primero Justicia (PJ) party, replaced veteran opposition legislator Henry Ramos. Two new vice-presidents of the chamber, also opponents, were also sworn in.
    Venezuela's opposition took control of Congress for the first time in 16 years last year in a rowdy session, setting up a power struggle with President Nicolas Maduro amid a worsening economic crisis.
    The Democratic Unity coalition won a two-thirds majority in December's 2015 legislative election by capitalizing on anger over a shrinking economy, soaring prices and chronic product shortages reminiscent of Soviet-bloc economies.
    Maduro has dismissed the assembly as "right-wing" and filled with "dinosaurs." Maduro also says he is the victim of an "economic war."
    Venezuelan opposition leader and governor of Miranda state Henrique Capriles as well as Lilian Tintori, wife of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, were seen arriving ahead of the swearing-in ceremony and opening of the 2017 Congress session.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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