Capriles insists Venezuela must hold new presidential election
Iran Press TV
Thu May 16, 2013 7:35AM GMT
Venezuela’s opposition leader has warned that if the Supreme Court does not accept a demand for a new presidential election, he will bring the issue to ‘international bodies.’
Henrique Capriles told AFP on Wednesday that “within hours, we are going to have a decision on whether (the Supreme Court) accepts” the opposition’s request for a new election.
The opposition leader also stated that he would take his fight to “international bodies” including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
On April 14, Nicolas Maduro won the presidential election with 50.7 percent of the vote against 49.1 percent for Capriles.
Capriles refused to accept the results and lawyers representing the opposition coalition lodged a complaint at the Supreme Court, claiming that a number of irregularities had occurred.
On April 27, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council said Capriles had failed to present any compelling proof that there were irregularities during the presidential election.
Maduro replaced late President Hugo Chavez, who lost a two-year-long battle with cancer on March 5.
The Venezuelan president says the United States provided the opposition with financial support. Maduro said on May 11 that Washington has made a “grave mistake” in refusing to acknowledge his victory.
“I believe (the United States) is committing a grave mistake, one more in its policy towards Latin America,” Maduro stated.
He made the remarks after US President Barack Obama rejected to say whether Washington recognized Maduro as the new president of Venezuela.
In addition, Maduro said Obama was “convinced” by his advisors to refuse to recognize the election results. “They promised him that I would be ousted in 24 or 48 hours, or that there would be a violent crisis in the country.”
MR/HSN
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