Maduro cannot be interim president and candidate, opposition said

March 7, 2013
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The Democratic Unity Table (MUD) opposition alliance in Venezuela, and constitutional experts warned Thursday that, “the vice-president, Nicolas Maduro can not act as interim president following the death of Hugo Chavez and simultaneously be a candidate of the ruling party in the elections that must be called within a month’.

According to constitutional lawyer Juan Manuel Raffalli, ‘Maduro after his first decree signed yesterday declaring the week of mourning there is no doubt that he is the acting president. Maduro did not appoint a vice president and with representing the dual role of president and vice president cannot run’.

“In order to be a candidate he would have to appoint a vice president or have a decision on the matter by the High Court of Justice (TSJ) to clarify the matter, although the country’s highest court did not rule on successor”.

He explained that “the intention of the Constituent Assembly was to be provisional in case of death of the president will be short, hence the Constitution contemplates that within 30 days to the call for presidential elections.”