Venezuela 's Supreme Court rejected a ruling from an international human rights court Monday , all but assuring opposition candidate Leopoldo Lopez will not challenge President Hugo Chavez in next year 's election . The country 's top court ruled against the Inter-American Court of Human Rights , which in September came out in support of Lopez 's fight to run for office . Chavez 's government accused Lopez of corruption during his tenure as the mayor of the municipality of Chacao , and through an administrative procedure barred him in 2008 from running for public office for six years . Lopez argued he had been unjustly banned , and the international court agreed . Venezuela , however , will not abide by the ruling . The Supreme Court released a statement Monday calling it `` unfeasible . '' Curiously , the court also stressed that the ban against Lopez is `` administrative , '' and `` not political . '' So in theory he could still compete in elections , though he would not be allowed to hold office . Lopez had been considered one of the top contenders to challenge Chavez in next year 's presidential election . At issue are two accusations made against him -- one in 1998 when he was an analyst for the state-run PDVSA oil company , and another in 2002 for alleged budgetary modifications while he was mayor . Lopez was never convicted of any crimes . He is n't the only one barred from competing in Venezuelan elections . In the run-up to the pivotal 2008 elections , hundreds of politicians were prevented from running , the vast majority from parties opposed to Chavez . Lopez , in 2008 , was running for mayor of Caracas , the South American nation 's capital . Chavez has ruled Venezuela for more than 12 years . Despite his ongoing battle with cancer , the charismatic president has said he plans to seek re-election .
Country 's Supreme Court rejects international ruling . Opposition leader Fernando Lopez will not be allowed to hold office . The government accuses him of corruption , though he has n't been convicted . Lopez was a leading candidate for president .