CARACAS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Supreme Court Friday ratified that Nicolas Maduro can swear in as "acting president" and also be presidential candidate in the elections which have to be held within 30 days after the absolute absence of the President, as stipulated in the Constitution.
Since last October, Maduro held the Vice President post, and after the death of President Chavez last Tuesday, he can assume the President post, due to the Supreme Court's verdict, based in the interpretation of article 233 of the Venezuelan Constitution.
"The Executive Vice President (Nicolas Maduro) becomes Acting President and ceases his previous post. In his position of Acting President, he exercises all the constitutional and legal attributions as Chief of State," said the verdict.
According to the verdict, cited by Venezuelan media, "the electoral organization can admit the Acting President to participate in the Presidential Election. During the electoral process to elect the President, the Acting President is not obliged to withdraw from the post."
The swear-in ceremony is held on Friday at 1900 local time ( 2330 GMT), in the same honor room of Caracas' Military Academy where Chavez's remains stay.
The verdict, which is favorable to Maduro, political heir of Chavez appointed last December before Chavez traveled to Cuba to undergo the fourth cancer surgery, was released minutes before the beginning of the state funeral of the late Venezuelan President.
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