Caracas (AFP)

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday warned President Nicolas Maduro against the "disaster" that could, he said, be the convening of early parliamentary elections to renew parliament, the only institution controlled by the opposition. .

"What would happen if the regime dared, and can do so, to advance to unconditional advance elections (negotiated with the opposition)? They will drown in their contradictions, in their isolation, in a disaster," he said. Mr. Guaido told reporters before entering Parliament, of which he is the president.

"We are standing there, performing our duties," said the Social Democratic deputy who proclaimed himself interim president in January and has been recognized by some 50 countries, including the United States.

On Monday evening, the Constituent Assembly of Venezuela, close to Socialist President Nicolas Maduro, announced that it was planning to convene early elections.

"I will propose a commission (...) to evaluate in accordance with the law, the Constitution and the political situation of our country, with consultations of all the organizations, the people, the street, when will be the best moment to proceed with these elections, "said the president of the Constituent Assembly (ANC) Diosdado Cabello.

"If it results from this consultation that it must be January 1 (2020), we will organize these elections of the National Assembly on January 1. If it turns out that these elections are to be held this year (... ), they will be done as the consultation says, "continued the number two of the chavist regime, which hopes to give" this information to the country in the coming days ".

Elections to renew the National Assembly are currently scheduled for December 2020.

Venezuela is currently facing the toughest political and economic crisis in recent history, marked by recession, hyperinflation and the power struggle between Juan Guaido and Nicolas Maduro.

© 2019 AFP