CNN
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Here’s a look at the life of Leopoldo López, a Venezuelan opposition leader who was imprisoned for inciting anti-government protests.
Date of birth: April 29, 1971
Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela
Birth name: Leopoldo Eduardo Lopez Mendoza
Father: Leopoldo López Gil, businessman and MEP
Mother: Antonieta Mendoza de López, media manager
Marriage: Lilian Tintori (2007–present)
Children: Federica Antonieta, Leopoldo Santiago and Manuela Rafaela
Education: Kenyon College, BA, sociology, 1993; Harvard University, MLA, public policy, 1996
He is the great-great-grandson of Venezuela’s first president, Cristóbal Mendoza.
Is a descendant of the South American liberator Simon Bólívar.
Was re-elected mayor of Chacao with 81% of the vote and finished his term with an approval rating of 92%.
1996-1999 – Assistant to the Chief Economist and Economic Advisor of Petróleos de Venezuela SA
2000-2001 – Works as professor of economics at the Andrés Bello Catholic University.
2000-2008 – He served two four-year terms as mayor of Chacao, a district of Caracas.
2008 – The government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez banned López from running for public office, accusing him of corruption and embezzlement of public funds. Chavez’s government excluded hundreds of other politicians, many of whom belonged to parties opposed to Chavez.
2009 – Helps launch a new political party called Voluntad Popular, or People’s Will. The party’s mission is to overcome poverty and guarantee a democracy where all Venezuelans have rights.
September 16, 2011 – The Inter-American Court of Human Rights announces its decision that López’s rights were violated when he was barred from running for office.
October 17, 2011 – Venezuela’s Supreme Court rejects the ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, upholding López’s ban on running for office. A day later, López promises to run for president despite the court’s decision.
January 24, 2012 – López withdrew from the presidential election and supported opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski.
February 13, 2014 – After at least three people are killed during an anti-government protest in Caracas, a Venezuelan court issues an arrest warrant for Lopez. Authorities say he is responsible for the violence. He is accused of conspiracy, murder and terrorism.
February 18, 2014 – López surrenders.
February 19 and 20, 2014 – A hearing to indict López takes place. Prosecutors drop murder and terrorism charges.
April 4, 2014 – Venezuela’s Attorney General announces that López has been formally charged with public incitement, property damage, arson and conspiracy. Activists demonstrate in Caracas to declare López’s innocence.
September 10, 2015 – Is found guilty and sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison. This conviction arouses protests.
May 3, 2017 – A “proof of life” video is released to dispel rumors that he is in poor health.
July 8, 2017 – Venezuela’s Supreme Court orders López released and placed under house arrest due to health problems.
August 1, 2017 – Venezuelan authorities are removing López from his home after objecting to a controversial election that critics say would allow President Nicolás Maduro to illegally consolidate power. Government officials say López violated the terms of his house arrest and was planning to flee. López’s lawyer denies these accusations.
August 5, 2017 – López returns to house arrest. “They just brought Leopoldo home. We are working with more conviction and firmness to find peace and freedom in Venezuela! », Tweets his wife Lilian Tintori.
September 2, 2017 – López’s wife claims immigration officials prevented her from leaving the country for Europe. Tintori said she was traveling to Europe to meet European leaders and talk about the crisis in Venezuela.
September 8, 2017 – López’s mother, Antonieta de Lopez, meets British Prime Minister Theresa May in Tintori’s place.
April 30, 2019 – Appears in a video with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó during a speech in Caracas. López says he was released from house arrest thanks to the armed movement.
May 2, 2019 – Venezuela’s Supreme Court issues an arrest warrant for López, saying he violated his court-ordered house arrest in 2017.
October 2020 – Leaves the residence of the Spanish ambassador in Caracas, to find his family in Spain. López had been staying at the Spanish embassy since April 30, 2019.