Bárbara César Siero claims coercion in signing political disqualifications

Bárbara César Siero María Corina Machado Venezuela judicial coercion TSJ political disqualification

Bárbara César Siero, a former magistrate and vice president of the Political-Administrative Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), has publicly denounced being coerced into signing political disqualifications for several opposition leaders.

César Siero revealed that the pressure was applied through the arbitrary detention of her family members—including two brothers and a sister-in-law—by the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) on December 15, 2023. This occurred as opposition leader María Corina Machado was seeking a judicial review of her disqualification.

According to her testimony, the fear for her family's lives compelled her to sign rulings that barred Machado, Henrique Capriles Radonski, and several other politicians from running in the 2024 elections. César Siero also issued a public apology for her silence during the period, stating she felt unable to evade the signatures under such circumstances.

Entities

Bárbara César Siero · Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar · Henrique Capriles Radonski · María Corina Machado · Supreme Tribunal of Justice · Tarek William Saab · Tribunal Supremo de Justicia · Venezuela

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] César Siero issued a public apology for not speaking out sooner about the judicial pressures she faced. lapatilla.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The signed disqualifications included political figures such as María Corina Machado and Henrique Capriles Radonski. elestimulo.com · www.entornointeligente.com
[● 5 SOURCES] The detention of César Siero's relatives occurred on December 15, 2023, coinciding with the deadline for Machado's legal challenge. espiganoticias.net · www.dnoticias.pt · elestimulo.com · www.informe21.com
[● 7 SOURCES] Ex-magistrate Bárbara César Siero claims she was coerced into signing political disqualifications for several leaders, including María Corina Machado. espiganoticias.net · www.dnoticias.pt · elestimulo.com · www.entornointeligente.com · www.informe21.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The coercion involved the arbitrary detention of César Siero's two brothers and her sister-in-law by the DGCIM. espiganoticias.net · www.dnoticias.pt · elestimulo.com · www.entornointeligente.com · www.informe21.com · +1 more