Has prison sentence given Venezuela opposition leader López a leg up?
After multiple delays, the trial of opposition leader Leopoldo López is set to resume today. He was arrested nearly six months ago for orchestrating mass antigovernment protests that turned violent, and his closed-door legal proceedings have been decried by the international human rights community.
While the government was roundly criticized for muzzling its critics, the move appears to have worked to its advantage. Mr. López's arrest back in February initially sparked outrage among the nation's mostly student protesters. The demonstrations against high rates of violence, a crumbling economy, and political mismanagement, however, largely fizzled out just three months later.
But López’s jailing wasn’t helpful only for President Nicolás Maduro. The lengthy legal proceedings and harsh treatment of López have boosted parts of the political opposition, as well.
Because of his arrest, “López and his party have become the principal protagonists within the opposition [coalition], both nationally and internationally,” says Dimitris Pantoulas, a Caracas-based political consultant.
http://news.yahoo.com/prison-sentence-given-venezuela-opposition-leader-l-pez-164417162.html
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