Venezuela’s chavista-friendly Supreme Court issued a ruling Wednesday declaring itself the legislative body of the federal government, annulling the opposition-ruled National Assembly for showing “contempt” towards the socialist government. Latin American media have labeled the move an autogolpe (“self-coup”), recalling the dissolution of Congress by Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori in 1992. With the notable exception of Russia, the international community has demanded President Nicolás Maduro and the Supreme Court undo the unconstitutional power grab and return lawmaking authority to the popularly-elected legislature. Late Wednesday night, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling stating that the National Assembly was in “contempt” of the socialist government. “While the contempt scenario persists and the National Assembly remains invalid, this institution will guarantee that the parliamentary duties be executed directly by this institution or whatever institution it wishes,” the statement read. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the National Assembly did not have lawmaking powers, claiming that three anti-socialist legislators elected in December 2015 – the election that turned the Venezuelan Socialist Party (PSUV) into the minority in the legislature for the first time in the Chávez era – had committed fraud. “Legally, the National Assembly does not exist,” then-vice-president Aristobulo Isturiz said last year.
Month: March 2017
Rosie O’Donnell Urges Melania Trump: ‘Divorce’ Donald and ‘Flee’
Rosie O’Donnell’s apparent preoccupation with President Donald Trump’s family members kicked up a notch this week when the actress offered First Lady Melania Trump some unsolicited marriage advice.
Villanova Student Calls Peer Who Picked Up her Dropped Pencil A ‘Racist’ in HuffPo
In a column for The Huffington Post, this week, a student at Villanova University argued that being polite does not excuse the “racism” of those who are against illegal immigration.
Twitter Changes Default Profile Pictures to ‘Inclusive’ and ‘Gender-Balanced’ Head
Twitter has changed the default “egg” profile picture for new users to a new “inclusive” and “gender-balanced” head.
Gwyneth Paltrow Cookbooks Could Increase Risk of Food Poisoning, Professor Warns
Recipes included in Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbooks include incomplete cooking instructions that could lead to increased risk of food poisoning, a food safety expert has warned.
Ivy League Schools Receive $41 Billion from Government in Six Years
According to a new report, Ivy League schools received $41 billion from the government between 2010 to 2015.
Emory Professor Claims No Evidence That Microaggressions Cause Pyschological Harm
In a recently published study, Emory Professor Scott Lilienfeld argues that there is little evidence that microaggressions cause psychological harm.
New App Alerts Illegal Immigrants to ICE Raids
A new app hopes to combat raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Popular Pro-Trump Account ‘Pizza Party Ben’ Suspended by Twitter
“PizzaPartyBen,” a popular pro-Trump comedy account and friend of former Breitbart Senior Editor Milo Yiannopoulos, was suspended without warning on Twitter early Friday.