Renewal of the electoral authority in Venezuela appointment of the electoral nominations committee

Abstract

"On October 14, 2014, one and a half years following the term expiration of three of the five directors (rectores) at the National Electoral Council (CNE), a full session of the National Assembly finally elected ten civil society representatives who, together with eleven legislators, will constitute the Electoral Nominations Committee, the body responsible for the pre-selection of candidates for the position of director to replace current CNE President Tibisay Lucena and principal directors Sandra Oblitas and Vicente Diaz, along with their respective alternates. Formation of the Election Nominating Committee allays the fears expressed by many sectors of Venezuelan society that the appointment of the new electoral authorities would fall to the Supreme Court (TSJ) since the two majority parties appeared unable to reach an agreement by a two-thirds majority, as required by law. Consensus for approval of the list of civil society members thus reaffirms the National Assembly’s role of appointing electoral authorities, as provided for in Article 295 of the Venezuelan Constitution."