VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION/GONZALEZ Venezuela's Supreme Court excludes participation of former Spanish PM in opposition defence

Record ID: 150546

  • Title: VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION/GONZALEZ Venezuela's Supreme Court excludes participation of former Spanish PM in opposition defence
  • Date: 8th June 2015
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JUNE 8, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF FORMER SPANISH PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ WALKING AMONG MEMBERS OF VENEZUELA'S OPPOSITION GONZALEZ IN NEWS CONFERENCE LILIAN TINTORI, WIFE OF JAILED OPPOSITION MEMBER LEOPOLDO LOPEZ, LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FELIPE GONZALEZ, FORMER SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, SAYING: "I
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC6WKFFIBBV6BM7OND2DKXXK67
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez said on Monday (June 8) he will respect a Venezuelan Supreme Court resolution barring him from participation in jailed opposition leaders' defence teams.
    On Sunday (June 7) Supreme Court president Gladys Gutierrez reiterated the court's decision that Gonzalez cannot act as a legal professional in the country because, she said, it violates the Law of Lawyers and the professional title certification required by the Constitution.
    Gonzalez said that while he doesn't agree with the resolution, he will respect the decision.
    "I don't agree with the resolution because I was asking to participate as a judicial figure that is within Venezuelan law, it couldn't be any other way and be under Constitutional protection. But even though I don't agree with the resolution, I should say that I respect it completely: I am excluded from any kind of participation except that of defence attorney because I've never requested that, of any kind of participation at an internal level in that defence. Logically, I accept Venezuelan jurisdiction which I based my proposal to participate as a technical assistant. I think it's a right of the defence but I respect and comply with the Supreme Court's decision", he said during a news conference in the country capital.
    Gonzalez, a socialist who headed Spain's government from 1982 to 1996, arrived in Venezuela on Sunday (June 7) to meet family members of jailed opposition figures Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma.
    Lopez is accused of masterminding anti-government protests and the government claims Ledezma was plotting to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.
    Gonzalez's involvement has drawn ire from Maduro who has accused him of supporting people allegedly planning to upend his government.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register