VENEZUELA: Caracas braces for massive rally of support for ailing President Hugo Chavez

Record ID: 213838

  • Title: VENEZUELA: Caracas braces for massive rally of support for ailing President Hugo Chavez
  • Date: 10th January 2013
  • Summary: GROUP OF CHILDREN WITH CHAVEZ BANDANAS
  • Embargoed: 25th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA8YTJECJJF3TI41YZEJ1RWZWZE
  • Story Text: The Venezuelan capital Caracas braced on Thursday (January 10) for a mass rally in support of President Hugo Chavez who remains on his sickbed in Cuba.
    A sea of red shirts and hats gathered outside the Miraflores Palace early on the day Chavez should have been sworn in for a new six-year term - an event postponed by the government to allow Chavez more time to recover.
    The rally is set to begin at 1430gmt with the presence of some Latin American heads of states.
    Chavez has not been seen in public nor heard from since his surgery on Dec. 11. It has also left his chosen heir, Vice President Nicolas Maduro, in charge until there is clarity over whether Chavez will recover or not.
    Chavez supporters did a double-take on seeing a dead rInger of the Venezuelan leader - Ali Bazan, who was dressed exactly like his idol.
    "My whole family share my happiness because I look like Chavez, but not only in the physical, but also in my ideas and everything having to do with the Comandante," said Bazan.
    Venezuela's opposition leaders are furious at what they see as a Cuban-inspired manipulation of the constitution by Maduro, Cabello and other Chavez allies.
    But the leader of the opposition, Henrique Capriles, who lost October's presidential election to Chavez, urged supporters not to hold a counter-demonstration to avoid violence.
    Chavez supporters like Wilmer Gonzalez, urged the leader to take the time needed to recover.
    "We are here with the Comandante, Chavez the people are here with you, we are never going to let the people forget about you. Stay in Cuba, recovering, because we are taking care of your country, Comandante Chavez - stay in Cuba - to recover. I am crying for Comandante Chavez. I love Chavez! The only president in the world who has helped the poor."
    The government says that Chavez suffered complications including a severe lung infection after the latest surgery. But speculation is rife on Twitter that he may be on life support or at risk of major organ failure.
    He has undergone four operations, as well as weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, since being diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in his pelvic area in June 2011.
    Another Chavez supporter said the leader was with his supporters.
    "I voted for Chavez, and for Chavez I am here and for Chavez we are all here because we are all Chavez. Chavez is not leaving. Chavez is the people and the people have become Chavez, so Chavez forever."
    Should Chavez die or step down, a new election would be called and it would likely pit Maduro against opposition leader Capriles.
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