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Subscribe to RSSThe opposition in Venezuela is demanding that the government come clean on the true state of Hugo Chavez's health. He's due to be sworn in again as President within the next week. However, he hasn't been seen in public since flying to Cuba for medical treatment last month. ITN's Jonathan Rugman reports.
CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is still suffering a "severe" respiratory infection that has hindered his breathing as he struggles to recover from cancer surgery in Cuba, the government said on Thursday.
The 58-year-old socialist leader has not been seen in public nor heard from in more than three weeks. Officials say he is in delicate condition after his fourth operation in just 18 months for an undisclosed form of cancer in his pelvic area.
"Comandante Chavez has faced complications as a result of a severe lung infection," Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said in the latest official update on the president's condition.
"This infection has caused a breathing insufficiency that requires Comandante Chavez to comply strictly with medical treatment," the communique added, giving no further details.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro had earlier returned to Venezuela on Thursday after visiting Chavez in hospital as rumors swirled that the president could be close to death.
Flanked by senior government figures including Diosdado Cabello, the head of the National Assembly, Maduro toured a coffee production plant in Caracas - the type of visit that the president made frequently before he fell ill.
AP file
In this photo provided by Miraflores Presidential Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a cabinet meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Nov. 8, 2012.
"He is conscious of the battle that he's in, and has the same fighting spirit as always, with the same strength and energy as always, with his confidence and security," Maduro said. "We're going to be alongside him with the same strength and the same energy."
Maduro said Cabello, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez and Chavez's elder brother Adan, among others, had all been with the president in the Havana hospital.
Venezuela opposition demands update on ailing Chavez
Venezuelan bonds rallied to five-year highs earlier on Thursday on rumors that Chavez's health had taken a turn for the worse. Foreign investors generally hope for a more business-friendly government in Venezuela, and its assets have rallied in recent months on news of his illness.
In scenes that recalled Chavez's hours-long televised visits to building sites, hospitals and oil refineries, Maduro told workers at the nationalized Fama de America factory that there was no "transition" taking place in the country.
"The only transition in Venezuela is the transition to socialism," he said in comments carried live by state television.
Pictures: Hugo Chavez through the years
"It began six years ago, ordered by Comandante Hugo Chavez as chief and president, elected, re-elected and ratified, much as it pains the bourgeois hucksters and the right, who have done so much damage to our fatherland."
Chavez's abrupt exit from the political scene would be a huge shock for the South American OPEC nation. His oil-financed socialism has made him a hero to the poor majority but critics call him a dictator.
His condition is being watched closely by Latin American allies that have benefited from his help, as well as investors attracted by Venezuela's lucrative and widely traded debt.
Presidencia / AFP - Getty Images
This handout image released by the Venezuelan Presidency shows Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas reading a statement on the health of President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Thursday.
'Make no mistake'
Chavez is still set to be sworn in on January 10, as spelled out in the constitution. If he were to die or had to step aside, new elections would be held within 30 days, with Maduro running as the ruling Socialist Party (PSUV) candidate.
While the constitution gives January 10 as the start of a new presidential term, it does not explicitly state what happens if a president-elect cannot take office on that date.
Top PSUV officials have suggested that Chavez's inauguration could be postponed - while the opposition says any delay would be just the latest sign the former soldier is not fit to govern.
Cabello said the "Chavismo" movement was in pain but remained resolute, and he issued a warning to the opposition: "Make no mistake about these people or this revolution. It is going to cost you very, but very, dearly," he said.
On Saturday, Cabello will likely be re-elected as head of the Chavista-dominated National Assembly, a key post that could see him assume Chavez's role temporarily while new elections are called should the president have to step down.
Relative says Venezuela's Chavez 'stable'
In the past Cabello has been considered as a rival of Maduro, but the pair have been at pains to deny that. Their appearance side-by-side at the coffee factory on Thursday looked to be the latest effort to project a unified front.
Last year, Chavez staged what appeared to be remarkable comeback from the disease to win re-election to a new six-year term in October despite being weakened by radiation therapy. But he returned to Cuba for more treatment within weeks of his win.
Venezuela's controversial president Hugo Chavez — who makes no secret of his dislike for the US — was re-elected to an unprecedented third term, fending off a serious challenge to win decisively, 54 to 45 percent. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports from Caracas.
Officials have said he suffered unexpected bleeding and then a respiratory infection after a six-hour operation on December 11. That respiratory infection caused further complications, they have said, without giving more details.
The head of the opposition's Democratic Unity coalition, Ramon Aveledo, has accused the authorities of breaking a pledge to keep Venezuelans informed about Chavez's health.
And one opposition leader suggested on Thursday that legislators should form an official commission to visit Cuba and assess the president's condition for themselves.
Maduro hit back in his televised comments, saying the public had been provided with updates almost every day, and he accused Aveledo of orchestrating a campaign of misinformation.
"We have no doubt Mr. Aveledo is behind the campaign of sick rumors that began on Twitter and Facebook," Maduro said.
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yea, its called life support ! somebody kick out the plug !
The only life supporting plug that should be pulled is that of finance capitalism which doesn't serve the real economy here, nor does it strive to in Venezuela.
Translation: Dollar hoarding foreignors seek massive earnings from potential natural resource privatizations, bidding up the value in the process.
Subsequently, the public domain would likely end up replacing its lost income with finance capital from the same foreignors whereby driving the populace further into debt and destitution to such extremes that Venezuelans find themselves another Hugo Chavez. Right?
"Venezuelan bonds rallied to five-year highs..."
Hard to hide good news.
ELNUEVODIA.com
http://www.elnuevodia.com/hijadechaveztomariadecisiondedesconectarlo-1420642.html
What the Chavez crew is doing is the equivalnet of a military coup. "golpe de estado" in Spanish.These Stalinist dictators ,this gang that permitted thousands of Iranian terrorists to enter Latin America don´t want to give up power.Dictators almost never do.If they try to pull a fast one,they shoud be expelled from the OAS,and censured by the U.N security council.Then an international force should support the rebels to overthrow this fascist "new socialism" ( really old type USSR Stalinism). that wants to perpetuate a police state forever.If free elections are not held,these demons should be removed forcibly.They are doing the same type of hanky panky that the Muslim Brotherhood are doing in Egypt.Down with all dictators in the world.With all its warts only free elections and democracyshould govern.Of course if they use the elections to suspend the constitution and do away civil liberties,they must be overthrown.Anyway Viva una Venezuela Libre" Long live a free Venezuela. No more Chavez! No more Stalinist dictators!
Years of communist leader pole smoking no doubt.
The pole is taking it's toll.
Vikings 42, Packers 27
If Hugo and Fidel kick the bucket simultaneously, oh what a double hitter for the world. You two yard birds keep smoking those primo cuban stogies, because they're cancer free. Plus Cubans could make many pesos selling their 50. 60, 70s, etc., vintage cars to collectors. Whadda country.
They'd have to send those vintage cars to Mexico, for some tuck-n-roll and killer paint jobs!
....All while the capitalist vultures are circling.....
A Cuban cigar will fix his problem easy.
Let's hope the douchebag feels it coming on slowly and painfully, the way he's treated his people.
I have to admire the guy for watching out for his countries interests. Making sure the people get some of the money for their Oil. I know it burns some Oil barons arse they cant get at all that Oil, and make all the money.. But hey, its theirs isnt it. Chavez is doing what I would do in his shoes, and to hell with who doesnt like it. Im a believer in resource profits going to the people anyway, after all they all own it equally. It should be the same here for all the Oil and Minerals that are taken out of the ground. Those are owned by the state, that means everyone. Ive yet to see a dime for any of it. How about you?
I think the prevailing perception by most Americans is that Chavez is bad because our leaders and their supporters say he is bad; not based on any real consideration or research of the country's recent history.
T.Neville
A distorted view shared by most Americans; help yourself to a review of Operation Condor and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vBlV5TUI64
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Not so "who is the man",,,,
,,,,, some of us have lived in that once wonderful country. Some of us still have family living there and hear first hand of the nightmare spawned by this monster Chavez on a weekly basis.
He has destroyed the middle class, rule of law, value of the currency, and has created the murder capitol of the world out of its capitol city, Caracas.
Chavez himself should be declared a form of cancer.
If you restrict your opinion of Chavez strictly to his resource nationalism, then yeah, whatever. Their oil, their rules. I can argue that it's only made things worse, but it really is beside the point.
However, he's done much more than that. Incompetence and corruption have spread through his government not unlike the diseases in his body, and he's crippled Venezuela's media and democratic institutions in the effort to secure as much power as possible for his party and for himself.
That, and it's rather annoying when people make anti-American sentiment a pillar of their campaign, as if railing against the US is going to fix any of Venezuela's problems. But that's a minor gripe. He has plenty of more obvious failures to stain his legacy.
Hasta la vista, baby.
Suffer and die slowly Hugo Chavez.
The cancer was Chavez.
So long as the oil holds out, a demagogue like Hugo Chavez can find enough followers to remain President For Life. But he has done nothing to create a Venezuelan middle class that can pull the country out of its historic poverty without depending on oil revenues. [This by the way is the same mistake Fidel Castro made except for "oil" read the Soviet Union.]
Chavez has done nothing to us however, and we apparently tried twice to foment a coup to unseat him as if this were still 1954. Chavez has even provided free oil to some of our own poor in the name of "the People of Venezuela"--an ironic comment on which political system is better at providing for its people!
There is a great documentary called South of the Border everyone should see in this country. Our media is more wicked than this guy ever dreamed about. Its time people wake up and see who the real enemies of the country are.
Well, doggies!!! I think you hit the nail on the head, Mr. Drysdale. - Jed.
Sounds fair to me. Lets go up to Cuba and see how Chavez is doing with our own eyes. Bring some flowers and a get well card for good measure then after, pick up some cigars and head home. Sounds reasonable, right?
Wishing Chavez a speedy recovery.
Slow and Painful. Will Obama attend his funeral or will he send Hillary?
He was expecting state-of-the-art cancer treatment in a country that still drives 53 Chevy's?
You are an ignorant.
And you can't complete a sentence, romilio.
Before you croak, could you please send me 50 Cuban Cigars, Robusto size, in a plain brown box? Please, no labels on the cigars. Thank you so much. Contact me at telephone #, BR 549, for delivery instructions.
No more updates on this dirtbag needed until he reaches room temperature.
Who is The Man. Spoken like Hugo's boy toy. Hope the pain medicine isn't working.
"Don't cry for me Venezuela" - Hugo "Peron" Chavez
finally, some good news!
at least they call the party like it is "Socialist Party".
Well, 'who is the man' seems to have forgotten that the 'natural resource privatizations' were all Chavez' idea and all that money is being split between Hugo and his supporters -- three for Hugo and one for his supporters. If Hugo dies, maybe Venezuela will have enough operating capital to get a police force and stop having to buy food from Iran.
Don't worry. SEAN PENN will donate a lung to his best friend.