Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday (8/22) that the Supreme Court's decision to confirm him as president-elect after the July 28 election was “historic and decisive,” as the disputed election began to fade from major international news headlines.
Maduro has asked the courts to review the election results. Judges have ordered all presidential candidates to submit copies of the vote tally, which is their legal right.
Maduro's rival, Edmundo Gonzalez, did not comply. The opposition says the court, while constitutionally independent, operates as an arm of the ruling party and adds that it has no constitutional right to exercise any electoral function, making its ruling null and void.
Since the election and subsequent deadly anti-government protests, Maduro's government has carried out what the opposition, human rights groups and unions have called a crackdown on dissent.
At least 23 protesters have been killed in anti-government demonstrations since the election, and about 2,400 people have been arrested, according to the United Nations. Maduro says the protesters are extremists and fascists. (uh)
