02:12Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was summoned to the Supreme Court in Caracas on Friday, following the court's decision to summon presidential candidates for a review of the election results.
"Here I am, I am just Nicolas Maduro Moros, an ordinary citizen. I have answered the interrogation that has been legally asked of me, I have not shied away from any question from the judges, or magistrates in this historic electoral contentious appeal contained in this constitution, before the electoral chamber," Maduro stated.
He criticised the absence of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia before the highest court in the country.
"His absence before the highest court in the country is scandalous, just as his absence on June 20 for the signing of the agreement was scandalous, of recognition of the elections before the CNE-National Electoral Council. He does not recognise the CNE as an institution, he does not recognise the Supreme Court, and who does he recognise, the government of the United States?" Maduro said.
Gonzalez, who maintains that he is the legitimate winner of the July 28 presidential election, did not appear on Wednesday as ordered by the Supreme Court for an audit of the contested vote.
The government-aligned National Electoral Council certified the vote for Maduro, granting him a third six-year term. However, the decision was rejected by the opposition and led to intense protests.
The United States and several Latin American countries have recognised Gonzalez as the winner of the presidential election and have called on Venezuela's election officials to release their data.
The National Electoral Council has not yet published detailed results from the vote. In the meantime, the opposition has made available copies of 84 per cent of the ballots cast, which they claim show a clear victory for their candidate, Urrutia. The government, however, disputes these results, alleging that they are fabricated.
'It was scandalous' - Maduro on opposition leader's absence after appearing before Venezuela's Supreme Court
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was summoned to the Supreme Court in Caracas on Friday, following the court's decision to summon presidential candidates for a review of the election results.
"Here I am, I am just Nicolas Maduro Moros, an ordinary citizen. I have answered the interrogation that has been legally asked of me, I have not shied away from any question from the judges, or magistrates in this historic electoral contentious appeal contained in this constitution, before the electoral chamber," Maduro stated.
He criticised the absence of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia before the highest court in the country.
"His absence before the highest court in the country is scandalous, just as his absence on June 20 for the signing of the agreement was scandalous, of recognition of the elections before the CNE-National Electoral Council. He does not recognise the CNE as an institution, he does not recognise the Supreme Court, and who does he recognise, the government of the United States?" Maduro said.
Gonzalez, who maintains that he is the legitimate winner of the July 28 presidential election, did not appear on Wednesday as ordered by the Supreme Court for an audit of the contested vote.
The government-aligned National Electoral Council certified the vote for Maduro, granting him a third six-year term. However, the decision was rejected by the opposition and led to intense protests.
The United States and several Latin American countries have recognised Gonzalez as the winner of the presidential election and have called on Venezuela's election officials to release their data.
The National Electoral Council has not yet published detailed results from the vote. In the meantime, the opposition has made available copies of 84 per cent of the ballots cast, which they claim show a clear victory for their candidate, Urrutia. The government, however, disputes these results, alleging that they are fabricated.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was summoned to the Supreme Court in Caracas on Friday, following the court's decision to summon presidential candidates for a review of the election results.
"Here I am, I am just Nicolas Maduro Moros, an ordinary citizen. I have answered the interrogation that has been legally asked of me, I have not shied away from any question from the judges, or magistrates in this historic electoral contentious appeal contained in this constitution, before the electoral chamber," Maduro stated.
He criticised the absence of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia before the highest court in the country.
"His absence before the highest court in the country is scandalous, just as his absence on June 20 for the signing of the agreement was scandalous, of recognition of the elections before the CNE-National Electoral Council. He does not recognise the CNE as an institution, he does not recognise the Supreme Court, and who does he recognise, the government of the United States?" Maduro said.
Gonzalez, who maintains that he is the legitimate winner of the July 28 presidential election, did not appear on Wednesday as ordered by the Supreme Court for an audit of the contested vote.
The government-aligned National Electoral Council certified the vote for Maduro, granting him a third six-year term. However, the decision was rejected by the opposition and led to intense protests.
The United States and several Latin American countries have recognised Gonzalez as the winner of the presidential election and have called on Venezuela's election officials to release their data.
The National Electoral Council has not yet published detailed results from the vote. In the meantime, the opposition has made available copies of 84 per cent of the ballots cast, which they claim show a clear victory for their candidate, Urrutia. The government, however, disputes these results, alleging that they are fabricated.