2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis

2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis

Part of Crisis in Bolivarian Venezuela
The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) meeting on 28 March 2017.
Date	29 March 2017–present
Location	Venezuela
Cause	National Assembly is dissolved of legislative powers and stripped of parliamentary immunity. Supreme Court assumes control of legislative powers.
Outcome	Internal and international condemnation. Supreme Court reverses decision after facing criticism. Strengthening of 2017 Venezuelan protests Maduro calls a Constitutional Assembly to replace the 1999 Constitution of Venezuela

On 29 March 2017, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela took over legislative powers of the National Assembly. The Tribunal, mainly supporters of President Nicolás Maduro, also restricted the immunity granted to the Assembly's members, who mostly belonged to the opposition.

The dissolution was termed as a "coup" by the opposition while the Organization of American States (OAS) termed the action a "self-coup". The decision was condemned by some media outlets with analysts characterizing the move as a turn towards authoritarianism and one-man rule.

Politicians throughout the Americas, as well as leaders from the United Nations, expressed concern with the decision and demanded its reversal, though the Venezuelan government stated no coup had taken place and instead justified its decision as a reaction to "coup-like actions" allegedly performed by the opposition.

On 1 April 2017, the TSJ reversed its decision, thereby reinstating the powers of the National Assembly. Public dissatisfaction with the decision persisted however, with the strengthening of the protests that year "into the most combative since a wave of unrest in 2014" resulting from the crisis.

Following the death of President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela faced a severe socioeconomic crisis during the presidency of his successor, Nicolás Maduro, as a result of their policies. Due to the country's high levels of urban violence, inflation, and chronic shortages of basic goods attributed to economic policies such as strict price controls, civil insurrection in Venezuela culminated in the 2014–17 protests. Protests occurred over the years, with demonstrations occurring in various intensities depending on the crises Venezuelans were facing at the time and the perceived threat of being repressed by authorities.