Anxiety runs high among Venezuelan politicians, as President Hugo Chavez lies in a Cuban hospital bed while the country is left to guess who now holds his legislative influence. As a gesture of good will, Venezuelan Vice President Nicolás Maduro recently visited the re-elected leader and provided reassuring words to the nation's troops, according to a Fox News Latino report.
Last we heard, Chavez was in "stable" condition after contracting a respiratory infection during a surgery to treat his pelvic cancer. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos expressed concern that, in the event of Chavez's death, a tumultuous transfer of power could ripple throughout South America.
"What would be terrible is if that transition weren't easy, were problematic. That would generate a lot of problems in the region. That's why I've said that Chavez is a factor of stability at this time," Santos explained.
While Chavez could not speak to his army in person, VP Maduro conveyed a New Years message from the beleaguered President which reads: "I have had to battle again for my health, [but have] complete faith in the commitment and loyalty that the revolutionary armed forces are showing me in this very complicated and difficult moment."
Should Chavez recover, he will embark on a fresh six-year term until the 2018 elections roll around.
Venezuelan politician Alfonso Marquina notes that the ambiguity surrounding the country's leadership is unacceptable. "What I still don't understand is who is president. Who is governing the country now? As for the purpose of this sudden and improvised trip, only the national government knows."
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