Venezuela Supreme Court reform bill clears first vote

Venezuela's National Assembly backed on first reading a bill to change how Supreme Court justices are nominated, a move sought by the opposition during talks with the government of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

The bill would expand the Judicial Nominations Committee from 21 to 23 members. Parliament, where ruling socialists hold a majority, would provide 11 members, while 12 would come from “other sectors of society.” It must pass a second reading before it becomes law.

The reform is part of Washington-sponsored talks aimed at a democratic transition nearly eight months after the US ouster of Nicolas Maduro. The opposition has focused on the Supreme Court after it validated Maduro's contested 2024 re-election.

The opposition says its candidate, senator Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, was the rightful winner, a position backed by the United States and several Latin American and European countries. Maduro's victory claim sparked protests.

Opposition lawmaker Luis Florido told parliament that, if passed, the bill would signal “qualitative change” and would mean Supreme Court members would be magistrates “for all Venezuelans.”

In May, parliament created a committee to evaluate more than 90 Supreme Court justice candidates, but the process was interrupted by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24. The opposition side in the talks is led by Dinorah Figuera, while National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez leads the government side. Exiled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is not included in the negotiations.