CARACAS: Venezuela's emboldened opposition laid claim on Wednesday to a big legislative majority that could empower it to oust President Nicolas Maduro, who came out fighting and reacted by reshuffling his cabinet.
The lawmakers' defiant move further deepened a tense political standoff in the South American oil-producing country, which is mired in recession and seen analysts warn of the possibility of unrest on the streets.
Leaders of the opposition, which has vowed to find a way to get rid of Maduro within six months, had portraits of the socialist government's late hero Hugo Chavez removed from the National Assembly building.
The opposition has taken control of the assembly for the first time since 1999, the year that Chavez came to power.
At its first regular legislative session on Wednesday, the opposition-controlled assembly swore in three anti-government lawmakers, defying Maduro, who had secured a court injunction to suspend them.
The three extra deputies boost the total number of opposition seats in the legislature to a two-thirds "supermajority" that could enable them to remove Maduro by constitutional means.
The government side vowed to charge the opposition with contempt of court.
The number two in Maduro's leadership, former assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello, said the swearing-in of the suspended deputies "flagrantly violated the constitution."
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