Caracas: The opposition leader heading a campaign to hold a referendum vote on firing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is being investigated by the government.
Henrique Capriles said Monday that the Maduro government was seeking revenge for his efforts to have Maduro terminated as president this year. His term ends in 2019.
"They know that they've lost popular support, that they don't have the people on their side. That's why they have targeted me this way. It means the government is scared of the referendum on dismissing (Maduro) in a big way," Capriles told reporters.
"We got people out campaigning for the referendum around the country in a hurry. And the top level of the government orders me to be investigated."
The former governor and ex-presidential candidate will come under the central government's microscope as the Comptroller's Office looks into budget management in Miranda state in 2011, 2012, and 2013, state officials said in a statement.
"Inspect whatever you like. I have nothing to be afraid of," a defiant Capriles said.
Maduro defeated Capriles narrowly in 2013.
The socialist "revolution" championed by Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez is under rising pressure as economic crisis due to low oil prices, drags on.
The opposition-controlled National Assembly legislature is trying to drive Maduro from office, potentially with the referendum, as well as a bill that would declare Maduro to have abandoned his duties.
Venezuela has the biggest known oil reserves in the world and has been practically giving gasoline away at the pump over recent years.
But it has suffered from the plunge in world oil prices since mid-2014. It gets about 96 percent of its foreign currency revenues from oil.
Citizens are struggling with soaring inflation and shortages of basic goods such as cooking oil and toilet paper.
AFP
