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Capriles formally contests Venezuelan election result | Capriles formally contests Venezuelan election result |
(3 days later) | |
Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles has formally challenged the result of last month's presidential election. | Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles has formally challenged the result of last month's presidential election. |
Nicolas Maduro won the vote by a narrow margin of 1.49 percentage points, or fewer than 225,000 votes. | |
But lawyers representing the opposition coalition have filed a complaint at the Supreme Court, alleging a number of irregularities and calling for the result to be annulled. | But lawyers representing the opposition coalition have filed a complaint at the Supreme Court, alleging a number of irregularities and calling for the result to be annulled. |
Mr Maduro says the elections were fair. | Mr Maduro says the elections were fair. |
He replaced the late president, Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer on 5 March after 14 years in power. | He replaced the late president, Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer on 5 March after 14 years in power. |
Before the left-wing leader went to Cuba for treatment in December, he asked the Venezuelan people to vote for Mr Maduro should his health fail. | Before the left-wing leader went to Cuba for treatment in December, he asked the Venezuelan people to vote for Mr Maduro should his health fail. |
Hours after the poll closed on 14 April, the authorities announced the victory of Nicolas Maduro. He was sworn in five days later. | Hours after the poll closed on 14 April, the authorities announced the victory of Nicolas Maduro. He was sworn in five days later. |
Mr Capriles denounced dozens of alleged cases of voters being coerced to cast ballots for the government's candidate. | Mr Capriles denounced dozens of alleged cases of voters being coerced to cast ballots for the government's candidate. |
'Irreversible victory' | 'Irreversible victory' |
A lawyer representing the opposition, Gerardo Fernandez, said the team had handed in a 180-page document describing the alleged irregularities. | A lawyer representing the opposition, Gerardo Fernandez, said the team had handed in a 180-page document describing the alleged irregularities. |
The document also includes allegations of intimidation during the electoral campaign. | The document also includes allegations of intimidation during the electoral campaign. |
"In a democracy you must not only be allowed to vote, but you must be allowed to vote freely, without coercion or violence," said Mr Fernandez. | "In a democracy you must not only be allowed to vote, but you must be allowed to vote freely, without coercion or violence," said Mr Fernandez. |
Mr Capriles has said that he would use "all the available instances" to fight Mr Maduro's victory. | Mr Capriles has said that he would use "all the available instances" to fight Mr Maduro's victory. |
The Electoral Court must still decide whether the complaint is justified before allowing a trial to begin. | The Electoral Court must still decide whether the complaint is justified before allowing a trial to begin. |
Mr Capriles had demanded a vote-by-vote recount to the National Electoral Council (CNE). | Mr Capriles had demanded a vote-by-vote recount to the National Electoral Council (CNE). |
The CNE said it would be legally impossible to carry out. It agreed to carry out a partial audit, which is expected to take until June. | The CNE said it would be legally impossible to carry out. It agreed to carry out a partial audit, which is expected to take until June. |
During the audit, 46% of the votes cast will be examined. The CNE said the remaining 54% had been checked immediately after the election. | |
The CNE declared President Maduro the winner on 15 April, saying his victory was "irreversible" after polls suggested a 1.8-percentage-point lead with more than 99% of the votes counted. | |
His lead has since narrowed to 1.49 percentage points after votes cast abroad were counted. | |
Mr Capriles eventually rejected the CNE audit and said Mr Maduro had "illegitimately stolen the presidency". | Mr Capriles eventually rejected the CNE audit and said Mr Maduro had "illegitimately stolen the presidency". |
The opposition leader said the CNE did not give his team of advisers proper access to all the electoral data. | The opposition leader said the CNE did not give his team of advisers proper access to all the electoral data. |
"The National Electoral Council believe they are above all Venezuelans," said Mr Capriles. | "The National Electoral Council believe they are above all Venezuelans," said Mr Capriles. |