A constitutional fight over ailing President Hugo Chavez’s status
intensified Tuesday with the government planning a massive show of
support in the streets on the day he is supposed to be sworn in to a new
term. Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said late Monday that
Chavez’s medical condition has remained “stationary” since the latest
complication from surgery was reported four days ago. Chavez, who
underwent his fourth round of cancer surgery in Havana nearly a month
ago, is suffering from a severe pulmonary infection that has resulted in
a respiratory insufficiency.
The call for a rally January 10 outside the Miraflores presidential palace comes amid a stormy debate over whether Chavez and his current government can remain in office if he is too sick to take the oath of office.
The Catholic church waded into the controversy for the first time Monday, with a warning that it would be “morally unacceptable” to override the constitution and that Chavez’s prolonged absence had put the country’s stability at risk.
But the leftist government and the conservative opposition brandished conflicting interpretations of the constitution, with Chavez’s allies
calling the president’s swearing-in a “formality” that can be fulfilled sometime after January 10.
“We rule out absolutely nothing,” said National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello, when asked at a news conference if Chavez’s return in time for the inauguration had been ruled out.
“But we’re not going to get to the 10th and not know what we are going to do. We know what we’re going to do,” he said.
Part of the plan is to hold a huge pro-Chavez rally, with the participation of as yet unidentified foreign leaders, in a reminder of the 55 percent support that won the leftist firebrand re-election to another six-year term October 7.
“All of Venezuela will come here in front of the Miraflores presidential palace, the people supporting our president—the people supporting comandante Chavez—in an overwhelming manner, the people in the street,” said National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello.
The call for a rally January 10 outside the Miraflores presidential palace comes amid a stormy debate over whether Chavez and his current government can remain in office if he is too sick to take the oath of office.
The Catholic church waded into the controversy for the first time Monday, with a warning that it would be “morally unacceptable” to override the constitution and that Chavez’s prolonged absence had put the country’s stability at risk.
But the leftist government and the conservative opposition brandished conflicting interpretations of the constitution, with Chavez’s allies
calling the president’s swearing-in a “formality” that can be fulfilled sometime after January 10.
“We rule out absolutely nothing,” said National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello, when asked at a news conference if Chavez’s return in time for the inauguration had been ruled out.
“But we’re not going to get to the 10th and not know what we are going to do. We know what we’re going to do,” he said.
Part of the plan is to hold a huge pro-Chavez rally, with the participation of as yet unidentified foreign leaders, in a reminder of the 55 percent support that won the leftist firebrand re-election to another six-year term October 7.
“All of Venezuela will come here in front of the Miraflores presidential palace, the people supporting our president—the people supporting comandante Chavez—in an overwhelming manner, the people in the street,” said National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello.
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