(CNN) Venezuelan opposition leaders on Monday decried President Nicolas Maduro's announcement that he is pushing for changes in the Constitution.

Maduro signed an executive order that will form a "Constituent National Assembly" -- a body that could make those changes. It also would allow for the reshaping of the current legislative body, as well as redefine the President's executive powers.

While Maduro provided few details, he said that the new body would contain "some 500 constituents," who will be elected during a "direct and secret" vote.

"We must modify this state, especially the rotten National Assembly that's currently there," Maduro said. The body is controlled by the opposition.

Maduro announced his plans earlier while speaking to a large crowd of government supporters who had gathered for May Day celebrations.

While the atmosphere at Maduro's speech was one of excitement and celebration, elsewhere in Caracas opposition protesters were being met with tear gas and water cannons. Opposition protesters have been out on the streets since the beginning of April, calling for elections.

The elected constituents would represent all sectors of the Venezuelan society, including workers, youth, women, peasants, those who receive pensions, and indigenous people, among others. He said some 200-250 would be elected via direct vote.

He emphasized that those elected to the body would be chosen by the people -- and not by the political parties.

Leonel Alfonso Ferrer, a Venezuelan constitutional attorney, tells CNN en Espanol that, in the short term, nothing changes.

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"The country will continue to be ruled by the political institutions that it currently has. The presidency will remain in the hands of Nicolas Maduro. The National Assembly Venezuelan will still be controlled by the opposition, and so on. When the national constituent assembly is in place and its members are chosen, that assembly, as an original constituent power, will have powers that are above the Constitution and will eventually be able to rewrite the Constitution and transform the state [...] as well as remove the president, the National Assembly and the Supreme Court."

The last time Venezuela called for a Constituent National Assembly was in 1999, when then-President Hugo Chavez drew up the country's current Constitution. Maduro said it would be a special chapter in the country's history, a move to defeat the "facist coup" and to promote peace and stability in the country.

The opposition has called this move by Maduro a "self-coup." Opposition leader Henrique Capriles said Maduro was "killing the Venezuelan Constitution."

Julio Borges, leader of the National Assembly, echoed Capriles's statement, calling it a coup against the Constitution and democracy. He called it a fraud.

Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A costumed demonstrator in Caracas, Venezuela, protests the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday, August 6. Unrest continued to sweep through the country after a new legislative assembly was inaugurated following a controversial election on July 30. The new assembly has wide-ranging powers and is expected to rewrite the Venezuelan constitution at Maduro's behest. Opposition supporters, who see the vote as a power grab and an erosion of democracy, boycotted and staged demonstrations against the vote. Hide Caption 1 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Soldiers stop a vehicle and detain its passengers on the Paramacay military base in Valencia, Venezuela, on August 6. According to authorities, two people were killed when an anti-government paramilitary attack was quelled at the base. Hide Caption 2 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Anti-government activists stand near a flaming barricade in Valencia on August 6. Hide Caption 3 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A man is arrested in Valencia during clashes between anti-government activists and the National Guard on August 6. Hide Caption 4 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Members of the Venezuelan armed forces fly over Valencia in a helicopter while citizens demonstrate in support of a group that staged a paramilitary uprising at the Paramacay military base on August 6. Hide Caption 5 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Venezuela's Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz, third from left, is surrounded by employees of the General Prosecutor's office as she is barred by security forces from entering her office in Caracas on Saturday, August 5. Hide Caption 6 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Diosdado Cabello, a member of Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly, holds an image of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez as delegates gather for a group photo following their swearing-in ceremony on Friday, August 4. Hide Caption 7 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Opposition activists protest against the newly inaugurated National Constituent Assembly on August 4. Hide Caption 8 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A woman in Caracas attends a vigil Monday, July 31, for anti-government activists who have died in the country's recent unrest. More than 120 people have been killed in Venezuela since early April, according to the attorney general's office. Hide Caption 9 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Opposition lawmaker Juan Requesens addresses a rally in Caracas on July 31. Two other leading opposition figures, Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma, were rounded up from their homes, according to their families. Hide Caption 10 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Maduro celebrates the results of a national vote on Sunday, July 30. His opponents boycotted the election and demonstrated against it for weeks, saying he orchestrated it to get around the existing National Assembly, which the opposition has controlled since 2015. Maduro has argued that the Constituent Assembly will help bring peace to a polarized country, with all branches of the government falling under the political movement founded by his late mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chavez. Hide Caption 11 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Members of Venezuela's national police are caught in an explosion as they ride motorcycles near Altamira Square in Caracas on July 30. Venezuela has seen widespread unrest since March 29, when the Supreme Court dissolved Parliament and transferred all legislative powers to itself. The decision was later reversed, but protests have continued across the country, which is also in the midst of an economic crisis. Hide Caption 12 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A wounded anti-government demonstrator is helped by medics during clashes with police in Caracas on July 30. Hide Caption 13 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A demonstrator shouts slogans through a traffic cone during an anti-government protest in Caracas on July 30. Hide Caption 14 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A protester wounded by a pellet gun receives attention July 30 during a demonstration against the vote for a Constituent Assembly. Hide Caption 15 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A member of the National Guard fires at protesters during clashes in Caracas on Friday, July 28. Hide Caption 16 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A demonstrator dressed as Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar is silhouetted against a national flag in Caracas on Monday, July 24. Hide Caption 17 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan police Officer Oscar Perez joins in an anti-government protest in Caracas on Thursday, July 13. Perez allegedly piloted a stolen police helicopter used to attack the Venezuelan Supreme Court with grenades on June 27. Hide Caption 18 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan lawmakers Luis Stefanelli, left, and Jose Regnault appear stunned in a corridor of the National Assembly after a clash with demonstrators in Caracas on Wednesday, July 5. Supporters of Maduro stormed the building and attacked opposition lawmakers, witnesses said. At least seven legislative employees and five lawmakers were injured, according to National Assembly President Julio Borges. Journalists said they were also assaulted. Hide Caption 19 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela National Guard members clash with deputies of the National Assembly in the Parliament's courtyard in Caracas on Tuesday, June 27. Hide Caption 20 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A boy runs under a national flag during a June 27 protest in Caracas. Hide Caption 21 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Protesters tear down a fence at the La Carlota airbase outside Caracas on Friday, June 23. A soldier shot a demonstrator through the fence at the base on the previous day, killing him. Hide Caption 22 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Hide Caption 23 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Protester David Jose Vallenilla is shot through a fence by a member of the National Guard near a military base in Caracas on Thursday, June 22. Vallenilla later died in the hospital after suffering three gunshot wounds to the chest. Hide Caption 24 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Maduro holds up a copy of the Venezuelan constitution during a news conference at the presidential palace in Caracas on June 22. Maduro has called for changes to the constitution amid the unrest. Hide Caption 25 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A protester hides behind a barrier in Caracas on June 22. Hide Caption 26 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela An opposition activist displays bullet shells during an anti-government demonstration on Monday, June 19. Hide Caption 27 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela People flee during a clash between opposition demonstrators and riot police in Caracas on June 19. Hide Caption 28 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Opposition activists aim projectiles toward riot police during a demonstration on June 19. Hide Caption 29 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Demonstrators stand in front of a police vehicle on June 19. Hide Caption 30 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A street in eastern Caracas is painted with the names of people killed during more than two months of protests. Hide Caption 31 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela During a "Grandparents' March" in Caracas, a man is blocked by police from reaching the Government Ombudsman's Office on Friday, May 12. Hide Caption 32 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Opposition activists scuffle with riot police in Caracas on May 12. Hide Caption 33 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Thousands of Venezuelan protesters march on a Caracas highway on Wednesday, May 10. Hide Caption 34 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Opposition activists clash with riot police in Caracas on Monday, May 8. Hide Caption 35 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Hide Caption 36 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela An armored National Guard vehicle runs over a protester in Caracas on Wednesday, May 3. The protester, 22-year-old Pedro Michell Yaminne, survived, his mother told CNN. Interior and justice minister Nestor Reverol told reporters that the "lamentable" incident was under investigation. He said that moments before Yaminne was run over, demonstrators hurled a Molotov cocktail at the armored vehicle, opened the side door and "brutally assaulted" the driver. Hide Caption 37 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A demonstrator catches fire during protests in Caracas on May 3. It happened as protesters clashed with police and the gas tank of a police motorcycle exploded. Other photos from the scene showed the man being attended for burns to his body. Hide Caption 38 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A demonstrator stands in front of an armored vehicle during protests in Caracas on Wednesday, April 19. Hide Caption 39 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Opposition leader Henrique Capriles reacts to tear gas during a protest on April 19. Hide Caption 40 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Riot police clash with demonstrators while tear gas fills the air in Caracas on April 19. Hide Caption 41 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Rescue workers tend to a demonstrator hit by a tear gas canister during anti-government protests on April 19. Hide Caption 42 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A demonstrator reacts during a march in Caracas on Saturday, April 15. Hide Caption 43 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela A protester suffering from the effects of tear gas is carried away on Thursday, April 13. Hide Caption 44 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Clouds of tear gas spread across a highway in Caracas during clashes on Monday, April 10. Hide Caption 45 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Demonstrators help a journalist whose leg was injured while covering clashes in Caracas on April 10. Hide Caption 46 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Thousands of demonstrators protest against Maduro in Caracas on Saturday, April 8. Hide Caption 47 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan police line up before clashing with opposition activists on Thursday, April 6. Hide Caption 48 of 49 Photos: Crisis in Venezuela Demonstrators fight with national police officers in Caracas on Tuesday, April 4. Hide Caption 49 of 49

"What has happened today, and I say without exaggerating or trying to be dramatic, is the greatest coup in the history of Venezuela. It's Nicolas Maduro dissolving democracy and dissolving our republic. Faced with this, the Democratic Unity Party and the members of the National Assembly call on the Venezuelan people to rebel and refuse to accept this coup."

Growing unrest

Venezuela has been rocked by violent protests in recent weeks as opposition leaders have faced off with Maduro and his supporters. Venezuela's attorney general said that at least 29 people have been killed since the protests erupted at the beginning of April. This number includes many cases unrelated to the political protests, including incidents of looting, CNN has found.

Anti-government protesters want Maduro to step down and new elections be held. The government has repeatedly blocked any attempts to oust Maduro from power by a referendum vote. It has also delayed local and state elections.

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The last vote held in Venezuela, the parliamentary election of 2015 , gave the opposition a majority. Critics say elections have been delayed because Maduro is afraid of the outcome.