Legislature cements Diosdado Cabello's position as third most powerful figure in government
Venezuelan politicians re-elected a staunch ally of Hugo Chávez to head the national assembly on Saturday, putting him in line to be caretaker president if the socialist leader does not recover from cancer surgery.
By choosing the incumbent, Diosdado Cabello, the "Chávista"-dominated legislature cemented the combative ex-soldier's position as the third most powerful figure in the government, after Chávez and vice-president Nicolás Maduro.
"As a patriot … I swear to be supremely loyal in everything I do, to defend the fatherland, its institutions, and this beautiful revolution led by our Comandante Hugo Chávez," Cabello said as he took the oath, his hand on the constitution.
He had earlier warned opposition politicians against attempting to use the national assembly to "conspire" against the people, saying they would be "destroyed" if they tried.
Thousands of the president's red-clad supporters gathered outside parliament hours before the vote, many chanting: "We are all Chávez! Our comandante will be well! He will return!"
If Chávez had to step down, or died, Cabello would take over the running of the country as assembly president and a new election would be organized within 30 days. Chávez's heir apparent, Maduro, would be the ruling Socialist party candidate.
Chávez, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in his pelvic area in mid-2011, has not been seen in public nor heard from in more than three weeks.
Officials say the 58-year-old is in a delicate condition and has suffered multiple complications since the surgery on 11 December, including unexpected bleeding and severe respiratory problems.
Late on Friday, Maduro gave the clearest indication yet that the government was preparing to delay Chávez's inauguration for a new six-year term, which is scheduled for Thursday.
Maduro said the ceremony was a "formality" and that Chávez could be sworn in by the supreme court at a later date.
The opposition says Chávez's absence would be just the latest sign that he is no longer fit to govern, and that new elections should be held.
Brandishing a copy of the constitution after his win in the assembly, Cabello slammed opposition leaders for writing a letter to foreign embassies in which they accused the government of employing a "twisted reading" of the charter.
"Get this into your heads: Hugo Chávez was elected president and he will continue to be president beyond 10 January. No one should have any doubt … this is the constitutional route," he said as fellow Socialist party lawmakers cheered.
The opposition sat stony-faced. One of their legislators had earlier told the session that it was not just the head of state who was ill, but that "the republic is sick".
Last year, Chávez staged what appeared to be a remarkable comeback from the disease to win re-election in October, despite being weakened by radiation therapy. He returned to Cuba for more treatment within weeks of his victory.
Should the president have to step down after 14 years in office, a new vote would probably pit Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver and union leader, against opposition leader Henrique Capriles, the 40-year-old governor of Miranda state.
Capriles lost to Chávez in October's presidential election.
"I don't think Maduro would last many rounds in a presidential race. He's not fit for the responsibility they have given him," Capriles said after the vice-president's appearance on state television.
Chávez's condition is being watched closely by leftist allies around Latin American who have benefited from his oil-funded generosity, as well as investors attracted by Venezuela's lucrative and widely traded debt.
The country boasts the world's biggest crude reserves. Despite the huge political upheaval Chávez's exit would cause, the oil industry is not likely to be affected much in the short term, with an extension of "Chávismo" keeping projects on track, while a change in parties could usher in more foreign capital.
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Guardian