Venezuelan opposition protests at Electoral Body against political exclusion

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Venezuelan oppostion protests at Electoral Body against poitical exclusion

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Caracas, Venezuela, 18 June, 2008. The Venezuelan opposition is holding a small demonstration in front of the Electoral Body- CNE- to protest the exclusion of some of its leaders from the coming local elections. Members of both the opposition and the government have been prevented from participating is those election as an administrative punishment for participating in embezzlement and mismanagement of public resources. This measure was taken by the Venezuelan Comptroller General. 

Despite having endured such administrative restriction since last year, it is only now that members of the opposition demonstrate against it. The coming local elections in November are seen as an important battle against President Chavez. Were the opposition to win more local government places, Chavez would find it very difficult to propose an extension of his tenure in office or the implementation of socialist reforms by decree. Current Mayor of Chacao, Leopoldo Lopez, is one of the main leaders in this demonstration. He intends to run for another local election post in November but has an administrative restriction over him. Few years back, his mother was working at Venezuelan oil company -PDVSA- at a funding board. From that position, she secured a donation to his son emerging party Primero Justicia. In another related case, Leopoldo Lopez paid workers extra fringes benefits without proper budgetary provisions. During his protests, Lopez has claimed administrative restriction of political rights cannot over ride his political rights enshrined at the current constitution.

Sources: Globovision, El Universal, Unionradio

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