The Venezuelan government says that President Hugo Chavez will miss Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony for his third term due to health problems.
Diosdado Cabello, head of National Assembly, said, "The President has asked us to inform you that, in accordance with the recommendations of the medical team that is taking care of re-establishing his health, the process of post-operative recovery will extend further than January the 10th of this year.
Because of this, he will not be able to appear on that day in front of the National Assembly. This constitutes an unexpected but irrefutable reason for which we invoke Article 231 of the Bolivarian Constitution of Venezuela, with the purpose to formalize a swearing-in at a further date corresponding to the Supreme Court."
Chavez is in hospital in Cuba after cancer surgery. He has suffered complications caused by a lung infection, and has not been seen in public since his operation last month. Venezuela's opposition has called for a Supreme Court ruling on what should be done if Chavez is absent during the inauguration. Its leader, Henrico Capriles, says according to the constitution, the National Assembly speaker should act as caretaker president until new elections to be held within 30 days. The government insists the swearing-in ceremony is merely a formality.