The Fourth Higher Administrative Court ratified Friday a stay of execution related to the expropriation of golf courses at Caracas Country Club.

José Antonio Maes, the solicitor of Chacao municipality, provided the information and noted the importance of such decision.

"This decree is very relevant because it handcuffs the metropolitan mayor and prevents him from occupying provisionally the premises. In the event of a final ruling favoring Chacao municipality, he will not be able to do any work on the estate due to potential irreparable damages."

"It was hard for the judge to make a decision, and she made it by ratifying the precautionary measure. However, as the municipality attorneys, we have made merely technical allegations," Maes said.

The lawyer explained that the Metropolitan Mayoralty has not the legal power and authority to expropriate. The entity, rather than being a decision-maker, plays a coordinating role.