| Henrique Capriles | |
|---|---|
| Henrique Capriles Radonski | |
| 36th Governor of Miranda | |
| In office 2008 – 2012 |
|
| Preceded by | Diosdado Cabello |
| 4th Mayor of Baruta | |
| In office 2000 – 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Ivonne Attas |
| Succeeded by | Gerardo Blyde |
| Deputy to the National Congress | |
| In office 1998 – 1999 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 11, 1972 Caracas |
| Political party | Primero Justicia |
| Alma mater | Andres Bello Catholic University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Religion | Catholic[1] |
| Website | www.caprilesradonski.com |
Henrique Capriles Radonski is a Venezuelan politician. From 2000 until 2008, Capriles was the mayor of Baruta Municipality of Caracas; he launched his candidacy for the Miranda state government in 2008. In November 2008, Capriles was elected the new Governor of Miranda, defeating Diosdado Cabello.
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Henrique Capriles was born in Caracas on July 11, 1972. He studied law at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello and became a specialist in Commerce Law in 1994. He took courses in Tax Law at the Central University of Venezuela.[2]
Capriles has also taken courses at the IBFD International Tax Academy in Amsterdam, the Centro Interamericano de Administradores Tributarios in Viterbo, Italy, and Columbia University in New York. He is a member of the International Fiscal Association, as well as the World Association of Young Jurors and the Committee of Taxes of the Venezuelan American Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Venamcham). Capriles has worked in the public and private sector, including Nevett & Mezquita Abogados, Seniat, Hoet, Pelaez, Castillo & Duque (a law firm).[2]
Capriles is Catholic (his mother was Jewish).[1]
Henrique Capriles was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Venezuela in December 1998, representing the party COPEI and becoming the youngest member of the Venezuelan parliament ever elected. He served as its Vice president until it was dissolved by the Constitutional Assembly in August 1999.
In July 2000, Capriles was elected mayor of the Baruta Municipality, representing the party Primero Justicia. He was re-elected in October 2004, receiving 79% of the vote, defeating the Chavista candidate, telenovela actor Simón Pestana.
In May 2011 in a public act as governor, announced his aspirations to be president of Venezuela.
In 2008 Capriles was a candidate for the office of governor of the state of Miranda, which he won on November 24.
Venezuelans who have been sentenced or are under investigation can be barred from running in elections. Capriles alleged supporters of Hugo Chavez used "Venezuela's justice system to guard against his possible victory over a ruling-party candidate" in the 2008 election. In 2006, Capriles had been acquitted on charges of formenting violence in a siege of the Cuban embassy during the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt, but five months later, his acquittal was revoked; courts reopened the case and ordered Capriles to appear. In the 2002 incident, protesters at the Cuban embassy cut off electricity, smashed windows, and blocked the Cuban ambassador, German Sanchez Otero, from leaving. Otera claimed that Capriles "should have used his authority as the mayor of Caracas' Baruta district to disperse the crowd of angry protesters"; Capriles said "he helped avert more violence by preventing protesters from storming the Embassy".[3][4]
The U.S. Department of State mentioned Capriles' case in its 2008 Human Rights report as denial of a fair public trial.[5][6]
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