Wife of Venezuelan Opposition Leader Expects Tough Stance from President Rousseff

05/07/2015 - 09h19

Lilian Tintori, 37, wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, has said she expects "a clear and decisive statement from President Rousseff about the systemic violation of human rights and the crisis in Venezuela."

López has been in jail since February 2014, accused of inciting violent protests.

"We hope that President Rousseff requests the release of the 89 political prisoners in Venezuela, that the repression comes to an end, and that she sends qualified observers for the next parliamentary elections," said Tintori to Folha.

She is currently in Brazil with Mitzy Capriles, wife of Antonio Ledezma, the mayor of Caracas who was arrested in February, accused of plotting a coup against President Maduro.

They met on Tuesday (5) with former Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso and São Paulo state governor Geraldo Alckmin. Cardoso added his voice to a group of ex-presidents calling for the release of the political prisoners in Venezuela.

On Thursday (7), the two women are due to speak at the Senate's committee of foreign relations, on the invitation of Senator Aloysio Nunes Ferreira (PSDB - São Paulo). They will also meet Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB - Minas Gerais). They requested a meeting with President Rousseff, but received no response.

López, leader of the party Popular Will, was mayor of Chacao, in Greater Caracas, and is now in solitary confinement in a 2x2m cell in Ramo Verde.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Eduardo Knapp/Folhapress
	Lilian Tintori, 37, wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López