(CNN Spanish) – Henrique Capriles, the presidential candidate for Venezuela’s opposition party Primero Justicia, said he would not “disqualify himself” because of the administrative penalty that prevents him from holding public office and, therefore, registering as a candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
“I cannot exclude myself, and I will not ask the government’s permission to decide whether or not I can run,” he said this Monday at a press conference, referring to the 15-year political disqualification measure that the Comptroller said was imposed on him in 2017. Capriles paid He pleaded not guilty and denounced that the punishment affected his political rights.
In September 2021, the EU Election Observation Mission, in its final report on the recommendations made by Brussels after the regional elections, warned that there was a “lack of legal certainty that led to the arbitrary exclusion of candidates.”
“It’s something under discussion,” Capriles said, indicating he wouldn’t wait until that was decided to argue his case, though it wasn’t clear what discussions he was referring to. There is a negotiation process between the opposition and the government. Restoration of political rights and cases of disqualification are on the table.
With the disqualification weighing against him, despite his legal efforts inside and outside the country, Capriles will not be able to hold public office until 2032, after the process initiated against him by the Comptroller’s Office when the former governor of the state of Miranda was investigated. alleged wrongdoing. Capriles argues his innocence in this process, for which he was convicted of his “negligence” in not submitting, according to this body’s version, the budget bills for the parallel fiscal year of 2011, 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.
Capriles Primero Justicia will represent the opposition primaries, scheduled for October 22, in which a single candidate will be decided in the constitutionally mandated 2024 presidential election.
Capriles also referred to the negotiation process between the government and the opposition, recalling that it was supported by many international actors, including those who confirmed that they are considered allies of the President under question, Nicolás Maduro, such as the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez; From Brazil, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, and from Colombia, Gustavo Petro.
The parties began this process in August 2021 in Mexico, mediated by Norway, with the aim of reaching agreements on social, economic and political rights and electoral guarantees.