Venezuelan candidate ban upheld

The Venezuelan Supreme Court has ruled that a ban on some 270 people from standing in November's state and municipal polls is constitutional. The list of barred candidates, most from opposition parties, was issued by Venezuela's anti-corruption chief. He said the law gave him the right to impose restrictions on potential candidates suspected of corruption. Critics said the ban was unconstitutional because none of those affected had been convicted of a crime. Venezuelan Comptroller General Clodosbaldo Russian issued his list of barred candidates earlier this year. He argued that under Venezuelan law he had the right to disqualify people suspected of corruption from running for office. His view was upheld by the Supreme Court (TSJ), which ruled on Tuesday that a contested article of law that enabled the ban did not violate the constitution.