International News

CARACAS, (APP/AFP): Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Monday
rejected a proposed constitutional reform to cut short the term of President Nicolas Maduro, according to a written judgment.
The court ruled that such an amendment could not be applied
retroactively or immediately to Maduro’s current term, as proposed in a bill by opposition lawmakers who blame him for a crippling economic crisis.
It said that would violate “the will of the people” who elected him.
The opposition vowed to oust Maduro when it took control of the
legislature in January after winning elections.
Lower house lawmakers last week approved a bill proposing to reduce
presidential terms from six years to four. That bill would also have to be
approved in a referendum to enter into force.
The court said in its ruling Monday that “trying to use a
constitutional amendment to cut short immediately a term of office of someone popularly elected, such as the president of the republic, is an act of fraud against the constitution.”