There is a lot to blog about, but I really feel like I have no energy for it. The decision by the Constitutional Hall which is here, which voids that of the Electoral Hall on many grounds, some which I understand, some which I do not, seems to me to have been constructed for the occasion and to suit Chavez’ desires. Let me try to summarize the reasons why it was voided:
-It violated procedures.
-It did not give the CNE the right to defend itself.
-Says their decision (today’s) is not a threat to the right of citizens to express themselves (!)
-It says that changing no rules were changed, claiming that the criteria used were in place in September (!)
-Says the criteria applied by the Electoral Hall to validate the signatures does not apply in this case, because the CNE has to certify who signed. (What are signatures, witnesses and high security forms for?)
-It says the Electoral Hall could not rule the period for ratification was too short, since that period had not been established (False: CNE Director Jorge Rodríguez publicly announced it would be only two days on the same day that the decision on the signatures was announced)
-It says the Electoral power can draw up regulations on its own and the Electoral Hall violated its independence.
-Says that the Electoral hall decided on the issue not on the injunction.
Well, except for the first point and the last, for which I can not give an opinion because I am not a lawyer, the others seemed to me to be absurd: The decision does threaten my rights, the rules were changed on the way, the only valid identification is the signature and the fingerprint is there too just in case, if the Electoral Power is autonomous then what is the Electoral Hall for then?
What is clear to me is that the dice are loaded against the opposition with these guys. They will always be able to find a legal argument to stop the recall referendum or now that regional elections are in the works, to say that so many votes from here or there are invalid. That seems to be our future.
Now, the Electoral Hall will decide whether it challenges the decision by taking it to the Full Court or not. I understand that it will and that since Ivan Rincon was involved in the descion a different Justice will decided whether it goes to the full Court or not. But I also understand that they can stop it for a while, reject it temporarily and otherwise delay the whole process. Such is the law in a totalitarian state. Chavismo is the law in Venezuela, Chavez is the law, our very own Louis XIV.
God help us, we are in the hands of unethical and immoral Justices, leading the country into a tragic confrontation.
The Devil's Excrement 
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