María Alejandra Díaz on the TSJ sanction: “It is a “punishment”

The Venezuelan lawyer María Alejandra Díaz, whom The Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) imposed a ban on practicing his professionsaid this Wednesday that the measure is a “punishment” for having attended an appeal in which several political organizations requested evidence of the controversial re-election of Nicolás Maduro in the presidential elections on July 28.

«They punish us by eliminating our right to work, but, also, without due process. It is our way of life, we have no other income other than professional practice,” said the jurist in an act of redress in her favor, organized by dissident movements of the ruling Chavismo, among them from the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV).

She stressed that this sanction is something “unprecedented”, which falls on her after 35 years of practicing law and after 2 years in which she had a more critical role against the Maduro government, which she defended until the last five years.

How much is the fine that María Alejandra Díaz must pay?

“We believe that it is a bill for our political positions,” insisted Díaz, who says he feels in a “legal limbo”“Well,” he explains, “the suspension has an “indefinite” duration, at least until the TSJ clarifies its decision to know whether he should appeal to the court or go to the Bar Association.

He said he also asked the court for explanations about how he will have to pay the imposed fine of 100 euros ($105.64).

Díaz asked the lawyers’ union to establish a position on this case, since – he warns – all jurists who demand “compliance with a constitutional right” are being put at risk if “the government feels that it is getting in the way.”

«The one that is threatened is the lawyers’ union. “That is the most serious thing about this entire sentence and that is why we believe that we must act,” he said.

Last week, the TSJ rejected the appeal assisted by Díaz and fined and sanctioned her, “given the serious allegations noted” in the constitutional protection introduced, which question and disrespect the power held by the Supreme Court and which, in addition, “intend to generate anxiety and commotion in the population”.