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| Venezuela Vice-President Maduro 'to give annual address' | Venezuela Vice-President Maduro 'to give annual address' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro will give the state of the nation speech as Hugo Chavez is still in Cuba after surgery, officials say. | Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro will give the state of the nation speech as Hugo Chavez is still in Cuba after surgery, officials say. |
| Mr Maduro would appear before the National Assembly on Tuesday "in accordance with the constitution", Deputy Speaker Dario Vivas said. | |
| President Chavez was due to be sworn in on 10 January for a fourth term. | President Chavez was due to be sworn in on 10 January for a fourth term. |
| The Supreme Court ruled he could take the oath at a later date, a view challenged by opposition figures. | The Supreme Court ruled he could take the oath at a later date, a view challenged by opposition figures. |
| Mr Maduro would deliver the annual state of the nation address at 16:00 local time (20:30 GMT) as President Chavez was still recuperating in Cuba, Mr Vivas told Venezuelan radio. | |
| This was in line with the constitution as Mr Chavez had been granted leave of absence by the National Assembly, he added. | |
| This view was challenged by some legal experts who highlight Article 237 of the Constitution which stipulates that the president should appear "personally" to give the speech within 10 days of the inauguration of the legislature. | This view was challenged by some legal experts who highlight Article 237 of the Constitution which stipulates that the president should appear "personally" to give the speech within 10 days of the inauguration of the legislature. |
| The current assembly was sworn in on 5 January. | The current assembly was sworn in on 5 January. |
| 'Advancing' | |
| President Chavez underwent a fourth operation for cancer on 11 December, and suffered post-operative complications. | President Chavez underwent a fourth operation for cancer on 11 December, and suffered post-operative complications. |
| Mr Maduro said he had met Mr Chavez in Havana on Monday and that his health was improving. | |
| "Our commander is climbing the hill, he's advancing, and that fills us with great happiness," he added. | |
| "We gave him an update on the government in its new stage, the progress of the revolution, our plans." | |
| Supreme Court justices have ruled that Mr Chavez, who has been in office since 1999, can be sworn in for another term as president at a later date. | Supreme Court justices have ruled that Mr Chavez, who has been in office since 1999, can be sworn in for another term as president at a later date. |
| Opposition leaders say the government is riding rough-shod over the constitution and have demanded clarity about who is running the country. | Opposition leaders say the government is riding rough-shod over the constitution and have demanded clarity about who is running the country. |
| According to the constitution, if a president is permanently incapacitated, the speaker of the National Assembly should take over and elections called within 30 days. | According to the constitution, if a president is permanently incapacitated, the speaker of the National Assembly should take over and elections called within 30 days. |
| If the absence is temporary, the vice-president assumes charge for a maximum of 180 days. | If the absence is temporary, the vice-president assumes charge for a maximum of 180 days. |