By William Tucker
Over the last few days there have been rumors circulating that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died, or is otherwise in a vegetative state, following medical treatment in Cuba. These rumors appear to be unfounded, but the inconsistent discourse coming from Chavez’s inner circle – along with the president’s absence – have made the rumors difficult to combat. Vice President Nicolas Maduro, the chosen successor to Chavez, has stated that the president’s health is “delicate and complex,” but hasn’t alluded to when Chavez would return. Others close to Chavez have simply stated that his health has worsened, but again, they have been cautious in their statements. Despite the rumors there is a very real problem with the president’s absence. Chavez was recently reelected and is scheduled to be sworn in on January 10 – a mere eight days away. Although Chavez has identified Maduro as his successor, there are still constitution matters to attend to.
As we’ve stated here before, the stability of Venezuela is important to many of the nation’s neighbors and with so much of Venezuela’s stability riding on Hugo Chavez health it is no trivial matter to discuss. In this most recent discussion, however, the president’s health is in a time crunch. With inauguration day fast approaching, a Chavez absence could prompt political turmoil because of constitutional requirements. Regardless, Caracas bears close scrutiny over the next few weeks as the powers that be navigate this situation. Many of Venezuela’s neighbors – especially those who receive crude oil at a discount – will be watching.
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