NGO Director: no fraud, but "electoral corruption" on O-7

"There was no fraud on October 7, but electoral corruption by military officials," remarked the director of NGO Control Ciudadano, Rocío San Miguel. She asserted that the document leaked from the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense revealing the tasks performed by National Guard officers to mobilize the red (pro-government) apparatus on the presidential Election Day, plus the testimonies offered by grassroots militants, drivers, and motorcycle riders are sufficient evidence for the Attorney General Office to conduct an inquiry into this case.

"Apparatuses are completely understandable within the framework of political mobilization, the issue or the boundaries of that apparatus is the use of State goods or officials for the attainment of the objective," San Miguel remarked. She added that such situation is an offense, as set forth in article 60 of the Anti-corruption Law. "A public official who misuses his/her functions in favor or against an election candidate, group, or party, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment ranging from one to three years."

San Miguel urged the opposition leaders to file a complaint about this case as soon as possible "to avoid the recurrence of this pattern in the upcoming gubernatorial election to be held on December 16, and in the municipal election in March 2013," she recommended.

Translated by Andreína Trujillo