Chavez may not feel well enough on inauguration day

PanARMENIAN.Net - The government warned Venezuelans on Wednesday, Dec 12 that ailing President Hugo Chavez may not be well enough after his fourth cancer-related surgery in Cubato be inaugurated on Jan 10, The Associated Press reported.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro acknowledged that Chavez faced a "complex and hard" process after his latest surgery.

"We're more united than ever," said Maduro, who was flanked byNational Assembly President Diosdado Cabello and Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez, both key members of Chavez's inner circle. "We're united in loyalty to Chavez."

Information Minister Ernesto Villegas expressed hope about the president returning, but said if Chavez isn't back for his scheduled swearing-in for a new six-year term, "our people should be prepared to understand it."

Former Supreme Court magistrate Roman Duque Corredor said a president cannot delegate the swearing-in to anyone else and cannot take the oath of office outside Venezuela. A president could still be sworn in even if temporarily incapacitated, but would need to be conscious and in Venezuela, Duque told the AP.

If a president-elect is declared incapacitated by lawmakers and is unable to be sworn in, the National Assembly president would temporarily take charge of the government and a new presidential vote must be held within 30 days, Duque said.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who lost to Chavez in the October presidential election and is running for state office against Jaua, complained Wednesday that Chavez's allies are taking advantage of the president's health problems to try to rally support. He took issue with Jaua's statement to supporters that "we have to vote so that the president recovers."