A conflict between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government and his increasingly defiant Attorney General Luisa Ortega came to a head on Tuesday as she refused to attend a Supreme Court hearing on whether to lift her immunity from being tried for unspecified irregularities.

Ortega argued the outcome of Tuesday’s hearing was a foregone conclusion decided by the government that violates her legal right to defence and due process.

Luisa Ortega faced imminent suspension after her move cranked up the tension in a standoff with President Nicolas Maduro, who is resisting fierce opposition calls to quit.

Ortega, 59, is the most senior figure to defy Maduro as he fends off efforts to remove him from power in the volatile oil-exporting nation.

Bron: Aljazeera