Maduro further muddies Venezuelan waters

Regime’s attempt to seize parliamentary control creates yet another fracture in troubled Latin American nation

Venezuela’s political power tussle took a drastic New Year’s turn following an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to seize control of the opposition-held National Assembly (NA)—the country’s parliament and the last remaining democratic foothold to which the opposition lays claim.   Security forces on 5 January barred opposition leader Juan Guaido from entering the NA as the legislature body voted in new parliamentary speaker Luis Parra, a former opposition ally subsequently expelled on corruption charges. Guaido later held a rival vote among loyalist MPs outside the offices of an opposition-backed newspaper, before claiming more formal re-election the following day when his supporters final