Talk of Chavez cancer downturn rattles Venezuela

[Zorro]

Source: Reuters

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's absence from the spotlight, his creation of a formal advisory committee, and media leaks of medical details are feeding speculation of a downturn in his nearly year-long battle with cancer.

With a presidential election looming for October 7 in the OPEC nation ruled by Chavez since 1999, Venezuelans are obsessively focused on his condition and fretting about the consequences of a possible succession struggle.

Should the rumors be true - and they are fiercely denied by government officials - an end to the Chavez era would shake Venezuela and have major repercussions around Latin America where leftist allies like Cuba depend on his oil-fuelled largesse.

Spending most of the last six weeks in Havana for radiotherapy treatment, Chavez has only been seen once live in public since mid-April - and he ended that short address on Monday choking on his words and with tears in his eyes.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/talk-chavez-cancer-downturn-rattles-venezuela-134211642--business.html

[msongs]

1. it's a "democracy" lol. they can elect a new president for life nt

[provis99]

3. yes, Chavez is Hitler, Stalin and the anti-Christ rolled into one!

[harmonicon]

8. Get a grip.

The elections in their country are more closely monitored than those in the US. There is zero indication that there has ever been anything unfair or illegal in an election that Chavez won. Suggesting otherwise has a stench of racism to it. Is it that you think Native Americans can't effectively run and win elections? I suspect that you really just want to slander Socialists, but when you do in the cases of Native leaders in Latin America, there are other things you bring along with that slander. Please consider this.

[UTUSN]

9. Bwah-ha-HAH!1 I sincerely love Post #1 !1 (Absolutely NO sarcasm here.) n/t

[Renew Deal]

2. Why would there be a succession "struggle?"

Isn't succession clearly spelled out? I hope so for Venezuela's sake.

[contrarian22]

4. struggle

Venezuela has no provision for succession since their new Constitution in 1961 that left out a Vice President. This could get real ugly if he dies before the October elections.

[bemildred]

5. Vice President of Venezuela

Executive Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the second highest political position in the government of Venezuela. Vice President is the most direct collaborator of the President of the Republic according to the Constitution. Position of Vice President appeared in the Constitution of 1830 until the Constitution of 1858, and once again in the Constitution of 1999. The current Vice President of the Republic is Elías Jaua, who took up office in 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_Venezuela

[Judi Lynn]

6. The new constitution the country created after it elected Hugo Chavez in a landslide.

Very helpful information for those who didn't realize it.

Thanks.

[joshcryer]

7. The Vice President is appointed. Elías Jaua is a dud for the Oct. elections...

...so they're talking about the potential for a new Vice Presidential appointment.