Venezuela court upholds ban on leading opposition presidential candidate Machado

Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek Saab addresses the media, in Caracas, Venezuela January 26, 2024. REUTERS/Gaby Oraa

CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal on Friday upheld a ban which prevents presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado from holding office, upending the opposition's plans for elections planned later this year.

With its ruling, Venezuela's top court has barred Machado, a 56-year-old industrial engineer, from registering her candidacy for presidential elections scheduled for the second half of 2024.