VENEZUELA: National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello arrives for new session as Chavez's battle to recover from cancer surgery threatens his formal swearing-in for a new six-year term
Record ID:
862192
VENEZUELA: National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello arrives for new session as Chavez's battle to recover from cancer surgery threatens his formal swearing-in for a new six-year term
- Title: VENEZUELA: National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello arrives for new session as Chavez's battle to recover from cancer surgery threatens his formal swearing-in for a new six-year term
- Date: 5th January 2013
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JANUARY 5, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT DIOSDADO CABELLO ARRIVING AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SOLDIERS VENEZUELAN FLAG MAN WEARING HUGO CHAVEZ MASK VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS HOLDING UP BANNERS AND PORTRAITS OF CHAVEZ MILITARY RESERVISTS OUTSIDE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
- Embargoed: 20th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
- City:
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA98AR2KUX8OYK8GATLCLCM5AV9
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: The current leader of Venezuela's National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, arrived on Saturday (January 5) for the assembly's new session in which he is expected to be re-elected to lead the assembly, which is dominated by supporters of President Hugo Chavez.
The new session of the assembly comes as Chavez's battle to recover from cancer surgery threatened to delay his formal swearing-in for a new six-year term scheduled for Jan. 10.
In power since 1999, the 58-year-old socialist leader has not been seen in public for more than three weeks. Allies say he is in delicate condition after a fourth operation in two years for an undisclosed form of cancer in his pelvic area.
The political opposition argues that Chavez's presence on Jan. 10 in Cuba - where there are rumours he may be dying - is tantamount to the president's stepping down.
But Vice President Nicolas Maduro says there is no problem if Chavez is sworn in at a later date by the nation's top court.
Social networks are abuzz with rumours he is on life support or facing uncontrollable metastasis of his cancer.
Chavez's abrupt exit from the political scene would be a huge shock for Venezuela. His oil-financed socialism has made him a hero to the poor, while critics call him a dictator seeking to impose Cuban-style communism on Venezuelans.
Should Chavez leave office, a new election is likely to pitch former bus driver and union activist Maduro against opposition leader Henrique Capriles, the 40-year-old governor of Miranda state. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None