Opposition Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT), formally rejects ruling by the National Electoral Council (CNE)

The opposition party, Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT), formally rejected a ruling by the National Electoral Council (CNE) in support of Comptroller General Clodosbaldo Russian's ban on almost 400 people from being candidates in the regional elections. While the list includes a few individuals sympathetic to President Hugo Chavez, the great bulk are allied to the opposition. The CNE at first said Russian's measure was none of its business and directed people to the Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ). In the absence of a decision there, they went back to the CNE only to be told that it would abide by the Russian ban. CNE president Tibisay Lucena was said to have decided that people on his list would not be allowed to register as candidates. Gerardo Blyde, a former legislator who's now with UNT, hopes to be adopted as the opposition's unity candidate for mayor of Baruta municipality, south Caracas. Incumbent Mayor Henrique Capriles Radonski hopes to be adopted to run for governor of Miranda state but he is also on the list.