The new president of Venezuela's National Assembly, Luis Parra, participates in a session of the legislative body, in Caracas, Venezuela on Jan. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Str)
Lawmakers debated three main issues: the country's gasoline crisis, the release of "political prisoners," and "urgent wage adjustments for Venezuelan workers."
CARACAS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's National Assembly convened on Tuesday with opposition deputy Luis Parra serving as president of the legislative body.
A little past 10 a.m. local time (1400 GMT), Parra announced via Twitter that the day's session was opened "with the regulation quorum" required.
Lawmakers debated three main issues: the country's gasoline crisis, the release of "political prisoners," and "urgent wage adjustments for Venezuelan workers."
The head of the assembly's ruling PSUV party bloc, deputy Francisco Torrealba, took to Twitter to say lawmakers also discussed ongoing dialogue and "political coexistence" between Venezuela's progressive and conservative camps.
Public TV covered some of the debate taking place at the Legislative Palace, as well as a purported attempt by far-right opposition deputies, who don't recognize Parra's election as president, to disrupt the session.
Meanwhile, privately-owned VPI TV broadcast footage that purported to show hardline opposition leader Juan Guaido and his close aides entering the session.
On Sunday, Guaido lost his bid for reelection as president of the assembly to Parra, after ruling and opposition deputies voted for a new board of directors headed by Parra with a total of 81 votes.
Guaido and his group refused to accept the outcome, simulating a voting session outside the building to reelect him. ■
