Opposition legislators rebut top court decision on Chávez's swearing-in

Venezuela's opposition lawmaker Vestalia Sanpedro claimed that the ruling of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) concerning reelected President Hugo Chávez's failure to attend his swearing-in ceremony to be held next January 10 proves nothing but "the lack of independent branches of government in Venezuela."

She described the top court ruling as "ready-made," and voiced concern that the decision failed to define the duration of Chávez's absence.

Sanpedro remarked that opposition deputies have declared a "state of emergency," and asserted that the top court decision would be fully reviewed by different constitutional lawyers. She added that the relevant legal actions would be filed later in order to advocate the rule of law and the Constitution.

The opposition deputy indicated that the opposition aims at guaranteeing the protection of the citizens' rights. However, she underscored that in order to avoid any "unwise move," the opposition legislators would offer a press conference on Thursday. "We want to be serious and responsible" with respect to the issue, Sanpedro stated.