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Venezuelan candidate ban upheld | Venezuelan candidate ban upheld |
(1 day later) | |
The Venezuelan Supreme Court has ruled that a ban on some 270 people from standing in November's state and municipal polls is constitutional. | The Venezuelan Supreme Court has ruled that a ban on some 270 people from standing in November's state and municipal polls is constitutional. |
The list of barred candidates was issued by Venezuela's anti-corruption chief, Clodosbaldo Russian. | |
He said the law gave him the right to impose restrictions on potential candidates suspected of corruption. | He said the law gave him the right to impose restrictions on potential candidates suspected of corruption. |
Critics said the ban was unconstitutional because none of those affected had been convicted of a crime. | Critics said the ban was unconstitutional because none of those affected had been convicted of a crime. |
Mr Russian, Venezuela's comptroller general, issued his list of barred candidates earlier this year. | |
He argued that under Venezuelan law he had the right to disqualify people suspected of corruption from running for office. | He argued that under Venezuelan law he had the right to disqualify people suspected of corruption from running for office. |
His view was upheld by the Supreme Court (TSJ), which ruled on Tuesday that a contested article of law that enabled the ban did not violate the constitution. | His view was upheld by the Supreme Court (TSJ), which ruled on Tuesday that a contested article of law that enabled the ban did not violate the constitution. |
Key test | Key test |
The opposition say the disqualification is politically motivated and affects key opponents of President Hugo Chavez. | |
These include Leopoldo Lopez, the mayor of the Caracas neighbourhood of Chacao, who had planned to stand as mayor of the capital. | These include Leopoldo Lopez, the mayor of the Caracas neighbourhood of Chacao, who had planned to stand as mayor of the capital. |
Those affected argued that the ban was in violation of the constitution, which protects the political rights of all citizens unless they have been convicted of a crime. | Those affected argued that the ban was in violation of the constitution, which protects the political rights of all citizens unless they have been convicted of a crime. |
Mr Russian has rejected this, saying the disqualification of potential candidates did not remove all their political rights but "solely the possibility of running for political office". | Mr Russian has rejected this, saying the disqualification of potential candidates did not remove all their political rights but "solely the possibility of running for political office". |
The elections on 23 November for state governors, mayors and councillors are being seen as a critical test of President Hugo Chavez and his political project. | The elections on 23 November for state governors, mayors and councillors are being seen as a critical test of President Hugo Chavez and his political project. |
Last December, Mr Chavez lost a referendum on a raft of reforms, including one that would allow him to run again in the 2012 presidential election. | Last December, Mr Chavez lost a referendum on a raft of reforms, including one that would allow him to run again in the 2012 presidential election. |
His allies run most of Venezuela's states and cities, and analysts say he needs electoral success in November to build momentum for further attempts to reform the constitution | His allies run most of Venezuela's states and cities, and analysts say he needs electoral success in November to build momentum for further attempts to reform the constitution |
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