by Michael Orfanos
In an unpreceded decision, the Supreme Court barred Leopoldo Lopez from taking office, but upheld his right to eligible run in the upcoming elections. However, this contradictory decision places into doubt Lopez’s presidential campaign, since it has the potential (if Lopez manages to win in the upcoming Presidential elections) to overthrow him from office in the near future. Lopez has been under investigation for alleged corruption-yet no official charges have been made against him for quite some time now. Luisa Morales-the Supreme Court President- told the press that Lopez may freely participate in the upcoming elections but whether or not he may actually hold his office: “…isn’t within the judicial branch’s analysis at this time”. In other words, even if Lopez manages to win in the upcoming Presidential elections, chances are that he will not be President, since it remains in the Venezuela Supreme Court to decide if he is eligible to become President, and according to the Wall Street Journal, six out of the seven Supreme Court Justices “are sympathetic to the President” (Chavez).
Leopoldo Lopez Mendoza, a Venezuelan politician, economist and former mayor of the Chacao Municipality of Caracas is a charismatic political figure and great-great-great-great nephew of Simon Bolivar. In 2000 he was elected President of Chacao with 51% of the vote, and managed to re-elect in 2004 with 81% of the vote, thus the LA Times described him as: “immensely popular”. Indeed, in a poll (conducted in Caracas in 2008), an overwhelming majority of Venezuelans (52%) opposed Lopez’s ban and another 51% stated that (the ban) was politically motivated. This was a slap in the face for Chavez, who is desperately trying to hold his office and eliminate any threats by faulty accusing his poitical opponents of crimes and then sanctioning them (without official charges ever been made and case presented to the court), thus placing his opponents political ambitions and efforts on indefinite hold. According to Venezuelan official records around 400 people (prominent political figures) have been denied the right to run in the elections due to similar criminal accusations. More than 80% of them are considered to be Chavez’s critics and political opponents ( according to: www.ipop.gr). And to make things worse for Chavez, on September 16, 2011 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously that “Lopez should be allowed to run for office”.
Even Chavez’s one time friend, Noam Chomsky in an interview to the Observer (June 2011), accused Chavez for amassing too much political power and for having ambitions to become a dictator: “Concentration of executive power…is an “assault” on Democracy”. Perhaps the most characteristic example of Chavez’s influence over Democratic institutions (such as the judicial authorities) is the case of former judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni. The later ruled in favor of a Chavez opponent-Eligio Cedeno a prominent banker-and ordered his immediate release. This decision infuriated Chavez, calling the judge “a criminal” and demanded that “she has to be jailed for (at least) 30 years”. After that, Afiuni was sentenced to jail (where she was assaulted by other prisoners more than once). Afiuni is also a single mother diagnosed with cancer. Chomsky also commented on the Observer that: “…as far as I understand, other judges have not come out in support of her…that suggests an atmosphere of intimidation”.
All Venezuelan political parties-following the Supreme Court ruling- released a joint Press Release condemning the Supreme Court ruling, and stating that the decision violates the country’s constitution. It is clear to everyone that Chavez is using his power to set barriers to his political opponents (in this case: Lopez) in order to remain at his office at all costs. Lopez’s will and determination- on the other hand- seem uncurbed, demonstrating a “Fortis in Arduis” attitude (meaning “strong in difficulties” in Latin).
Michael Orfanos is Marketing Manager and SEO Expert for naro.gr
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