Governance and Participation

The executive’s determined destruction of Venezuela’s institutions, including a lack of transparency and independence, especially from the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) and the National Electoral Body (CNE), undermined the powers from the opposition-led Legislative Branch (AN), even before the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly (ANC) was established. Venezuela’s future administration will need to restore constitutional order, develop mechanisms for addressing past and ongoing grievances, and assure that criminal law enforcement is apolitical and independent.

A fundamental first step will be the dismantling of the Constituent Assembly and restoration of the National Assembly closely followed by naming new members in accordance with the Constitution of the CNE and replacing the thirteen illegitimate Supreme Court justices.

The level of political corruption continues to worsen as the crisis deepens.

Venezuela’s next administration will need to adopt new anti-corruption mechanisms, in close coordination with civil society and in consultation with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the OAS. Those steps will need to be carried out with full transparency and engagement with civil society and lead to a rapid definition of the calendar and process for required elections in accord with the Constitution. That process also will require restoring the rights of political participation for members of the political opposition which were unconstitutional removed.