CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Opposition leader Henrique Capriles says he will run in April 14 presidential elections to replace Hugo Chavez.
During Sunday night’s announcement, he accused opponent Nicolas Maduro of using Chavez’s corpse as a campaign prop. Maduro is Chavez’s hand-picked successor.
Capriles said supporters told him the odds are so stacked against him that running against the Chavista machine would be like being dropped into a meat grinder.
Chavez died Tuesday after defeating the 40-year-old Capriles in October elections with 56 percent of the vote. Capriles won 44 percent of votes.
It was the opposition’s best showing ever against Chavez during his 14-year rule.
