MEXICO, March 11 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuelan opposition leader said he would contest acting President Nicolas Maduro in the country’s April 14 presidential election, scheduled after the death of ex-leader Hugo Chavez.
Maduro was sworn in as acting president on Friday and immediately instructed the electoral council to set the date for the next presidential election. The next day, the council named the date of April 14.
“How can we not fight? I will be fighting all of you, I will not give you a free way Nicolas and you will have to gain victory by votes,” Capriles told local media adding that he would officially submit his candidacy for the presidential post on Monday.
Chavez named Maduro as his successor before undergoing the latest surgery in December. Chavez died on Tuesday at the age of 58 after a two-year-long fight against cancer. He had led Venezuela for 14 years.
The inauguration ceremony for Maduro was held hours after Chavez’s state funeral, which was attended by over 30 heads of states and governments.
Chavez had defeated Capriles in October’s presidential election.
