CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) – Venezuela’s recently sworn-in Vice Prosecutor Katherine Haringhton attempted to enter the country’s Public Ministry on Thursday (July 06) after the Supreme Court heard a petition to remove dissident state prosecutor Luisa Ortega, who has expressed criticism of President Nicolas Maduro.
Ortega, the main challenger to Maduro from within the ruling socialist movement during three months of opposition protests, said she would not recognize legal proceedings against her by an “unconstitutional and illegitimate” Supreme Court.
Haringhton called on Ortega to consider the future of her position after she had attempted to enter the Public Ministry but then reportedly walked away from the building.
In recent weeks, Ortega has accused security forces of excessive violence, opposed pro-Maduro decisions by the Supreme Court and National Election Council, and said the president’s plan for a new congress threatens democracy.
Ortega has rejected Haringhton’s appointment and nominated Rafael Gonzalez instead.
Haringhton, is one of seven officials sanctioned by the United States in 2015 for alleged corruption and rights abuses.
Protesters across the oil-rich South American nation of 30 million set up road blockades “against the dictatorship” on Tuesday afternoon as they seek to ramp up pressure ahead of Maduro’s planned vote on July 30 to elect members of a new, controversial legislative superbody with powers to rewrite the constitution.
Maduro, a 54-year-old former union leader, says the assembly is the only way to bring peace to Venezuela after the deaths of 90 people in and around anti-government unrest since April. His opponents counter it is a ruse designed to avoid free and fair elections the Socialist Party would lose, and possibly consolidate one-party rule in the mold of communist ally Cuba.