Venezuela’s top court suspends results of opposition presidential primary
- Ruling could risk the wrath of the United States, which this month rolled back some sanctions in exchange for the electoral deal
- US said it will reinstate sanctions if Maduro’s government does not lift bans on some opposition candidates and free ‘wrongfully detained’ Americans
Venezuela’s Supreme Justice Tribunal said on Monday it has suspended the results of an opposition presidential primary which took place this month, despite an electoral deal between the government and the opposition that allows each side to choose its presidential candidate according to internal rules.
The US State Department has already said it will reinstate sanctions if the government of President Nicolas Maduro does not lift bans on some opposition candidates and free political prisoners and “wrongfully detained” Americans by the end of November.
The decision by the court, which the opposition considers an arm of the government, comes after the attorney general announced last week that his office is investigating the primary and members of its organising commission for electoral violations, financial crimes and conspiracy.
Members of the organising commission were meeting with prosecutors on Monday for interviews relating to the case, the commission said on social media.
The opposition and the primary’s winner Maria Corina Machado have insisted repeatedly the vote was transparent and fair.
The government has decried alleged fraud since the October 22 vote, which was organised without state help and which organisers said attracted more than 2.3 million voters.
