Venezuela Court Blocks Opposition Leader’s Presidential Bid

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18 October 2011

National coordinator of the opposition Voluntad Popular Party of Venezuela, Leopoldo Lopez, speaks during a news conference at the Naoum Hotel in Brasilia
Leopoldo Lopez speaks during
a news conference.
Reuters (CARACAS) – Venezuela’s Supreme Court ruled against opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on 18 October, blocking him from running in the 2012 presidential elections. The ruling follows an opposite verdict by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) on September 2011, allowing Lopez to run for president and dismissing charges of corruption and mishandling of public funds claimed by the Chavez administration. Despite the ruling by Venezuela's Court, Lopez said he will remain in the race against Hugo Chavez.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-blocks-chavez-rivals-presidential.html
(Reliability: 9)

Comment: The decision by Venezuela’s Supreme Court is not surprising given how the Chavez administration dismissed past rulings by the IACHR. Lopez is a leading contender in the upcoming opposition’s presidential primary slated for 12 February, when a single unity candidate will be chosen to face Chavez. As a young and charismatic politician, Lopez would present a serious challenge to Chavez if allowed to run. Meanwhile, questions remain whether Chavez is fit to run for office due to his ongoing cancer treatment and medical tests.

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