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| Hugo Chávez gaining strength in health battle, says vice-president | Hugo Chávez gaining strength in health battle, says vice-president |
| (8 days later) | |
| Hugo Chávez is "gaining strength" after surmounting complications from cancer-related surgery and may soon return to Venezuela, his vice-president, Nicolas Maduro, announced on Sunday. | Hugo Chávez is "gaining strength" after surmounting complications from cancer-related surgery and may soon return to Venezuela, his vice-president, Nicolas Maduro, announced on Sunday. |
| The most upbeat assessment yet of the president's health came little more than a week after he failed to attend his scheduled inauguration ceremony due to medical concerns. | The most upbeat assessment yet of the president's health came little more than a week after he failed to attend his scheduled inauguration ceremony due to medical concerns. |
| Chávez has not been seen or heard from in public since he flew to Havana 44 days ago for an emergency operation, prompting concerns about his health and the constitutionality of his prolonged absence from the presidential office. | Chávez has not been seen or heard from in public since he flew to Havana 44 days ago for an emergency operation, prompting concerns about his health and the constitutionality of his prolonged absence from the presidential office. |
| His stand-in, Maduro, said the worst was over in what he described as the president's "latest battle". | His stand-in, Maduro, said the worst was over in what he described as the president's "latest battle". |
| He said Chávez was fully conscious, with stabilising vital signs and organ functions, and "emerging from a post-operation phase to enter into a new phase of treatment that is being evaluated". | He said Chávez was fully conscious, with stabilising vital signs and organ functions, and "emerging from a post-operation phase to enter into a new phase of treatment that is being evaluated". |
| Detailed information is lacking, but the comments suggest Chávez may have overcome the worst of the respiratory problems he was said to have suffered earlier this month. | Detailed information is lacking, but the comments suggest Chávez may have overcome the worst of the respiratory problems he was said to have suffered earlier this month. |
| The medical situation remains too serious for the normally ebullient leader to show himself in public. | The medical situation remains too serious for the normally ebullient leader to show himself in public. |
| The Venezuelan supreme court had earlier ruled that Chávez could be inaugurated at a later date, but for the moment he maintains full presidential authority. | The Venezuelan supreme court had earlier ruled that Chávez could be inaugurated at a later date, but for the moment he maintains full presidential authority. |
| This has prompted a furious outcry among opposition politicians who demand clarity on the status of the president's health and the country's leadership. They have asked that a medical board of Venezuelan doctors travel to Cuba to certify that Chávez is alive and fit to govern. The government has ignored this proposal. | This has prompted a furious outcry among opposition politicians who demand clarity on the status of the president's health and the country's leadership. They have asked that a medical board of Venezuelan doctors travel to Cuba to certify that Chávez is alive and fit to govern. The government has ignored this proposal. |
| Maduro stood in for Chávez during the state of the nation address last week. Questions have been asked about who is signing presidential orders, including the appointment last week of a new foreign minister, Elías Jaua. | Maduro stood in for Chávez during the state of the nation address last week. Questions have been asked about who is signing presidential orders, including the appointment last week of a new foreign minister, Elías Jaua. |
| In an interview with the private broadcaster Televen, the vice-president said he was hopeful that Chávez would return soon, but did not mention a date. | In an interview with the private broadcaster Televen, the vice-president said he was hopeful that Chávez would return soon, but did not mention a date. |
| Denying rumours of a rift inside the ruling block, Maduro said he had recently talked to Chávez and assured him "the people are responding and the armed forces are strengthened and loyal". | Denying rumours of a rift inside the ruling block, Maduro said he had recently talked to Chávez and assured him "the people are responding and the armed forces are strengthened and loyal". |
| But he acknowledged the challenges posed by the president's fourth round of cancer surgery, which he described last December as "so complex and difficult that we went through great anguish". | But he acknowledged the challenges posed by the president's fourth round of cancer surgery, which he described last December as "so complex and difficult that we went through great anguish". |
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