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| Hugo Chávez inauguration delay angers Venezuelan opposition | Hugo Chávez inauguration delay angers Venezuelan opposition |
| (7 days later) | |
| The Venezuelan military and the supreme court have followed legislators in backing the postponement of the inauguration of the country's ailing president, Hugo Chávez, despite warnings from the opposition of a destabilising "constitutional coup". | The Venezuelan military and the supreme court have followed legislators in backing the postponement of the inauguration of the country's ailing president, Hugo Chávez, despite warnings from the opposition of a destabilising "constitutional coup". |
| The president was due to be sworn in on Thursday but the government said on Tuesday that the event would be postponed to allow him more time to recover from the "respiratory insufficiency" he has suffered since undergoing emergency cancer surgery on 11 December. | The president was due to be sworn in on Thursday but the government said on Tuesday that the event would be postponed to allow him more time to recover from the "respiratory insufficiency" he has suffered since undergoing emergency cancer surgery on 11 December. |
| The move prompted a furious debate in the national assembly and dire predictions of "anarchy" by the opposition, but the ruling party has planned a mass rally on Thursday to demonstrate popular and regional support. | The move prompted a furious debate in the national assembly and dire predictions of "anarchy" by the opposition, but the ruling party has planned a mass rally on Thursday to demonstrate popular and regional support. |
| Venezuela's armed forces expressed support for the postponement. In a televised video conference with the vice-president, Nicolás Maduro, the minister of defence, Admiral Diego Molero, said he was in full agreement with a delay. | Venezuela's armed forces expressed support for the postponement. In a televised video conference with the vice-president, Nicolás Maduro, the minister of defence, Admiral Diego Molero, said he was in full agreement with a delay. |
| Chávez's aides have described the inauguration ceremony as a "mere formality". As a serving president with a fresh electoral mandate and legislative permission to travel to Cuba for treatment, Chávez offers continuity of rule, and a delay that will allow him to recover enjoys popular support, they say. The constitution covers this because it allows for a president-elect to be sworn in by the supreme court if he is unable to attend the inauguration, the aides add. | Chávez's aides have described the inauguration ceremony as a "mere formality". As a serving president with a fresh electoral mandate and legislative permission to travel to Cuba for treatment, Chávez offers continuity of rule, and a delay that will allow him to recover enjoys popular support, they say. The constitution covers this because it allows for a president-elect to be sworn in by the supreme court if he is unable to attend the inauguration, the aides add. |
| But the constitution fails to specify when this should happen, and the government gave no indication of timing. With no word from the president for almost a month, and scant information about his current health condition, the opposition and the Catholic church have expressed fears that the delay could become indefinite, leaving Venezuela with an open-ended power vacuum. | But the constitution fails to specify when this should happen, and the government gave no indication of timing. With no word from the president for almost a month, and scant information about his current health condition, the opposition and the Catholic church have expressed fears that the delay could become indefinite, leaving Venezuela with an open-ended power vacuum. |
| The opposition demands the judiciary approve a medical panel to travel to Havana to assess whether Chávez's absence is temporary or absolute. In a passionate debate in the national assembly on Tuesday, it said Diosdado Cabello, as national assembly president and head of the legislature, should officially take the reins. | The opposition demands the judiciary approve a medical panel to travel to Havana to assess whether Chávez's absence is temporary or absolute. In a passionate debate in the national assembly on Tuesday, it said Diosdado Cabello, as national assembly president and head of the legislature, should officially take the reins. |
| "Who is governing Venezuela?" asked Julio Borges, head of the opposition Justice First party, prompting chants of "Chávez, Chávez, Chávez!" by ruling party legislators waving copies of the constitution. | "Who is governing Venezuela?" asked Julio Borges, head of the opposition Justice First party, prompting chants of "Chávez, Chávez, Chávez!" by ruling party legislators waving copies of the constitution. |
| The former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said the government was violating Venezuela's constitution. "This isn't a monarchy and we aren't in Cuba," Capriles told a press conference, warning of the prospect of anarchy or a military uprising if the constitution were breached. He said he had talked to generals, but none have publicly backed his claims. | The former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said the government was violating Venezuela's constitution. "This isn't a monarchy and we aren't in Cuba," Capriles told a press conference, warning of the prospect of anarchy or a military uprising if the constitution were breached. He said he had talked to generals, but none have publicly backed his claims. |
| "The nation's political and social stability is at serious risk," said Bishop Diego Padrón, the conference's president, reading a statement from the Venezuelan bishops' conference. | "The nation's political and social stability is at serious risk," said Bishop Diego Padrón, the conference's president, reading a statement from the Venezuelan bishops' conference. |
| The opposition asked the supreme court to rule that Chávez's current term expire on 10 January; after that, they say, Maduro has no constitutional right to run the government on his behalf. | The opposition asked the supreme court to rule that Chávez's current term expire on 10 January; after that, they say, Maduro has no constitutional right to run the government on his behalf. |
| But the ruling party holds sway. The judiciary, which is packed with judges appointed by Chávez, rejected the opposition's proposal. The vote on a postponement was approved by the assembly, which is dominated by the ruling party. | But the ruling party holds sway. The judiciary, which is packed with judges appointed by Chávez, rejected the opposition's proposal. The vote on a postponement was approved by the assembly, which is dominated by the ruling party. |
| The opposition has sent a complaint to the Organisation of American States, but there is little sign that regional powers such as Brazil and the United States will condemn the actions of the government, as Capriles has urged them to do. | The opposition has sent a complaint to the Organisation of American States, but there is little sign that regional powers such as Brazil and the United States will condemn the actions of the government, as Capriles has urged them to do. |
| The US weighed in to the debate on Tuesday with a call for transparency and inclusiveness in the decision-making process, but it stopped short of directly criticising the postponement. A state department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, said: "This is an issue for Venezuelans to decide, and they need to do it in a manner that includes all the voices in the discussion. So it needs to be a broad-based discussion, and it needs to be decided in a manner that is free, fair, transparent [and] … seen as ensuring a level political playing field in Venezuela." | The US weighed in to the debate on Tuesday with a call for transparency and inclusiveness in the decision-making process, but it stopped short of directly criticising the postponement. A state department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, said: "This is an issue for Venezuelans to decide, and they need to do it in a manner that includes all the voices in the discussion. So it needs to be a broad-based discussion, and it needs to be decided in a manner that is free, fair, transparent [and] … seen as ensuring a level political playing field in Venezuela." |
| Earlier this week, Brazil showed its support by declaring that the constitution of Venezuela allowed for a gap of up to 180 days, should Chávez not be sworn in at the scheduled date. Uruguay's president, José Mujica, and Evo Morales of Bolivia will join the rally on Thursday to show the support of the Latin American left; Argentina's Cristina Kirchner will fly to Havana to see Chávez the same day. | Earlier this week, Brazil showed its support by declaring that the constitution of Venezuela allowed for a gap of up to 180 days, should Chávez not be sworn in at the scheduled date. Uruguay's president, José Mujica, and Evo Morales of Bolivia will join the rally on Thursday to show the support of the Latin American left; Argentina's Cristina Kirchner will fly to Havana to see Chávez the same day. |
| Cabello told legislators Chávez could be away for as long as he wants. "There is no power vacuum," he said. "In Venezuela, there is a vacuum of the opposition." | Cabello told legislators Chávez could be away for as long as he wants. "There is no power vacuum," he said. "In Venezuela, there is a vacuum of the opposition." |
| The military's position is likely to be crucial. While the prospect of large-scale unrest on Thursday is slim, in the longer term the security forces will play an important role, not just because of their arms but also because of their influence. Representatives of the armed forces have three seats in the cabinet, hold top office in almost half of the 23 provinces, and play a key role in the oil industry and in social programmes. | The military's position is likely to be crucial. While the prospect of large-scale unrest on Thursday is slim, in the longer term the security forces will play an important role, not just because of their arms but also because of their influence. Representatives of the armed forces have three seats in the cabinet, hold top office in almost half of the 23 provinces, and play a key role in the oil industry and in social programmes. |
| As a former army officer, Cabello is thought to retain close ties to the military, because most of the generals graduated from the military academy at around the same time as him. Cabello has sworn unity with Maduro, whom Chávez chose as his successor, and is likely to support him in the event of an election. | As a former army officer, Cabello is thought to retain close ties to the military, because most of the generals graduated from the military academy at around the same time as him. Cabello has sworn unity with Maduro, whom Chávez chose as his successor, and is likely to support him in the event of an election. |
| Whether the army is united is another matter, though. Although packed with Chávistas, their loyalty to Molero, who was sworn in to office only hours before the president flew to Havana for surgery, has yet to be proved. The anti-Chávez coup in 2002 saw a split in the ranks. Chávez himself rose to prominence in a failed coup in 1992. | Whether the army is united is another matter, though. Although packed with Chávistas, their loyalty to Molero, who was sworn in to office only hours before the president flew to Havana for surgery, has yet to be proved. The anti-Chávez coup in 2002 saw a split in the ranks. Chávez himself rose to prominence in a failed coup in 1992. |
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