Venezuelan court annuls opposition mayor’s election, appoints Chavez backer to fill in

Venezuela annuls election of anti-Chavez mayor

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s highest court on Wednesday annulled the election of an opposition mayor, replacing him with a supporter of President Hugo Chavez until a new vote is held.

The Supreme Court threw out the 2008 election of Jorge Barboza, mayor of the Sucre municipality in western Zulia state, on grounds that he failed to pay $292 in local taxes.

The justices ruled Barboza was ineligible to continue as mayor because he lacked “the suitability (required) for the management of a mayoral post.”

In brief comments on the local Globovision television channel, Barboza called the ruling a coup against a democratically elected official and denied any wrongdoing.

His brother, Omar Barboza, said the arguments behind the ruling “constitute proof that the justice system is being used to politically persecute opponents” of Chavez’s socialist government.

Barboza said the owner of a house rented by the mayor apparently failed to pay the $292 in taxes. He called the court’s ruling ridiculous, saying his brother should not be held responsible for the home owner’s lack of responsibility.

The Supreme Court appointed Humberto Franka Salas, a member of Chavez’s ruling party, as interim mayor. Franka Salas, who was runner-up in the 2008 mayoral vote, will hold the post until a new election.

Chavez foes have long accused the president of using judges and prosecutors to bring trumped up criminal charges against government opponents. International rights groups have criticized the lack of independence of Venezuela’s judiciary, noting that Chavez appears to hold sway over the system.

Chavez rejects the allegations, saying he has never pressured judges or prosecutors to target his adversaries.