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| Hugo Chávez's battle with cancer has been a political weapon for both sides | Hugo Chávez's battle with cancer has been a political weapon for both sides |
| (25 days later) | |
| An alarming new episode in the saga of Hugo Chávez's health has gripped Venezuela since the president announced that he must return to Havana for emergency surgery. The signs are grim but after 18 months of rumours, secrets and premature reports of Chávez's imminent demise, there are also fears the cancer concerns will again be used by both government and opposition for political ends. | An alarming new episode in the saga of Hugo Chávez's health has gripped Venezuela since the president announced that he must return to Havana for emergency surgery. The signs are grim but after 18 months of rumours, secrets and premature reports of Chávez's imminent demise, there are also fears the cancer concerns will again be used by both government and opposition for political ends. |
| Since June 2011, when the president first revealed that Cuban surgeons had removed a baseball-sized tumour from his pelvic region, there has been a stream of speculation that he was about to die, had been fully cured – or was faking the illness. Many reports have been dubious and contradictory, but the government failed to quash the rumours as it could have done by releasing Chávez's medical records. | Since June 2011, when the president first revealed that Cuban surgeons had removed a baseball-sized tumour from his pelvic region, there has been a stream of speculation that he was about to die, had been fully cured – or was faking the illness. Many reports have been dubious and contradictory, but the government failed to quash the rumours as it could have done by releasing Chávez's medical records. |
| In recent weeks, fears about his health have surged to a new height. Chávez, once famed for his weekly televised addresses, did not appear in public for almost three weeks. He rushed to Cuba for what he said was hyperbaric oxygen treatment on 27 November with none of the usual protocols, and on Friday he skipped what ought to have been a triumphant first appearance for Venezuela at the Mercosur summit. | In recent weeks, fears about his health have surged to a new height. Chávez, once famed for his weekly televised addresses, did not appear in public for almost three weeks. He rushed to Cuba for what he said was hyperbaric oxygen treatment on 27 November with none of the usual protocols, and on Friday he skipped what ought to have been a triumphant first appearance for Venezuela at the Mercosur summit. |
| Instead, he came back to Caracas for a dramatic late-night announcement. He said he needed to return to Havana for fresh treatment after the discovery of malignant cells in areas where they had previously been removed. More ominously, for the first time he named his successor: the foreign affairs minister, Nicolás Maduro. | Instead, he came back to Caracas for a dramatic late-night announcement. He said he needed to return to Havana for fresh treatment after the discovery of malignant cells in areas where they had previously been removed. More ominously, for the first time he named his successor: the foreign affairs minister, Nicolás Maduro. |
| Chávez has never disclosed what type of cancer he has. Given the urgency of the case and his previous treatments, doctors suggest it is a sarcoma that is spreading. But the overseas experts that have commented on the case do not have his medical files and many previous rumours have proved at least premature and some politically motivated. | Chávez has never disclosed what type of cancer he has. Given the urgency of the case and his previous treatments, doctors suggest it is a sarcoma that is spreading. But the overseas experts that have commented on the case do not have his medical files and many previous rumours have proved at least premature and some politically motivated. |
| Chávez, 58, has undergone three surgeries to remove two tumours since June 2011 as well as several rounds of chemotherapy in what he describes as a "battle for health and for life". This has been characterised by courage, obfuscation, emotion and some bizarre twists, including speculation from the president that the CIA might have invented technology to spread cancer because several leftwing Latin American leaders were suffering from the disease. | Chávez, 58, has undergone three surgeries to remove two tumours since June 2011 as well as several rounds of chemotherapy in what he describes as a "battle for health and for life". This has been characterised by courage, obfuscation, emotion and some bizarre twists, including speculation from the president that the CIA might have invented technology to spread cancer because several leftwing Latin American leaders were suffering from the disease. |
| In a year of elections, both the opposition and ruling camp have accused the other of distorting or hiding the truth about Chávez's cancer to score political points. | In a year of elections, both the opposition and ruling camp have accused the other of distorting or hiding the truth about Chávez's cancer to score political points. |
| In spring, the information minister, Andrés Izarra, and the head of the national assembly, Diosdado Cabello, dismissed claims that Chávez had returned to Cuba for treatment – only for the president to confirm the reports soon after. | In spring, the information minister, Andrés Izarra, and the head of the national assembly, Diosdado Cabello, dismissed claims that Chávez had returned to Cuba for treatment – only for the president to confirm the reports soon after. |
| Returning from another bout of treatment in Havana in April, the president made a tearful and televised appeal to God to save him. There was a crescendo of speculation about his health in the early summer as the presidential election campaign got under way. | Returning from another bout of treatment in Havana in April, the president made a tearful and televised appeal to God to save him. There was a crescendo of speculation about his health in the early summer as the presidential election campaign got under way. |
| Salvador Navarrete, a Venezuelan doctor who claimed to be close to the Chávez family, sparked an outcry by declaring the president had sarcoma and less than two years to live. After intelligence agents visited his home, he fled to Spain. Reports based on sources in Brazil, Russia and the US – who all claimed to have access to Havana's medical reports – said the cancer had spread. | Salvador Navarrete, a Venezuelan doctor who claimed to be close to the Chávez family, sparked an outcry by declaring the president had sarcoma and less than two years to live. After intelligence agents visited his home, he fled to Spain. Reports based on sources in Brazil, Russia and the US – who all claimed to have access to Havana's medical reports – said the cancer had spread. |
| In May, the veteran US journalist Dan Rather said a presidential aide had told him Chávez was suffering from metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive cancer that had "entered the end stage", which meant he had only a few months to live. Others said he was so debilitated that he was unable to walk. The president's aides said such claims were immoral fabrications. | In May, the veteran US journalist Dan Rather said a presidential aide had told him Chávez was suffering from metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive cancer that had "entered the end stage", which meant he had only a few months to live. Others said he was so debilitated that he was unable to walk. The president's aides said such claims were immoral fabrications. |
| Chávez surprised his critics by walking to register his candidacy for the election campaign. In his latest address, he said he had been given the all-clear at that point. | Chávez surprised his critics by walking to register his candidacy for the election campaign. In his latest address, he said he had been given the all-clear at that point. |
| "Starting out the year with a recurrence, which was treated effectively, we finished radiation treatment in May, several days before I registered as a candidate for the elections," Chávez said. "If they had found anything negative then, you can be sure that I would not have stood for re-election." | "Starting out the year with a recurrence, which was treated effectively, we finished radiation treatment in May, several days before I registered as a candidate for the elections," Chávez said. "If they had found anything negative then, you can be sure that I would not have stood for re-election." |
| He cut down on TV and campaign appearances, but he still cut a vigorous figure as he walked through adoring crowds and made long public speeches, including one in the pouring rain shortly before his victory. He recently said this left him with swelling and pain. | He cut down on TV and campaign appearances, but he still cut a vigorous figure as he walked through adoring crowds and made long public speeches, including one in the pouring rain shortly before his victory. He recently said this left him with swelling and pain. |
| Critics accuse the ruling camp of using Chávez's health as a political weapon. Rather than release the president's medical records to clear up uncertainty, they say Chávez and his aides have drip-fed occasional details to capitalise on their impact. | Critics accuse the ruling camp of using Chávez's health as a political weapon. Rather than release the president's medical records to clear up uncertainty, they say Chávez and his aides have drip-fed occasional details to capitalise on their impact. |
| Luis Vicente León, an analyst at Datanalisis polling agency, said: "The secrecy surrounding Chávez's health has allowed them to control what is and isn't said, and when it is said. | Luis Vicente León, an analyst at Datanalisis polling agency, said: "The secrecy surrounding Chávez's health has allowed them to control what is and isn't said, and when it is said. |
| "On occasions the debate on the president's health has diverted everyone's attention away from other very pressing issues. If the illness was transparent it would lose its ability to influence the public arena by flooding national debate whenever they judge it convenient." | "On occasions the debate on the president's health has diverted everyone's attention away from other very pressing issues. If the illness was transparent it would lose its ability to influence the public arena by flooding national debate whenever they judge it convenient." |
| With elections for regional governorships looming on 16 December, León said the ruling party may be trying to secure a sympathy vote. | With elections for regional governorships looming on 16 December, León said the ruling party may be trying to secure a sympathy vote. |
| But the signs look grim. Other analysts say the biggest issue facing Venezuela is whether the governing block can remain united if Chávez dies or is unable to lead. Javier Corrales, professor of politics at Amherst College in Massachusetts, US, said this is the most serious test for the government since 2004. "Chávez has never prepared his party, let alone his nation, for a successor. | But the signs look grim. Other analysts say the biggest issue facing Venezuela is whether the governing block can remain united if Chávez dies or is unable to lead. Javier Corrales, professor of politics at Amherst College in Massachusetts, US, said this is the most serious test for the government since 2004. "Chávez has never prepared his party, let alone his nation, for a successor. |
| "The party leaders are not clear among themselves about whom deserves to be the successor … If he withdraws, no one knows how this inevitable tension will be solved." | "The party leaders are not clear among themselves about whom deserves to be the successor … If he withdraws, no one knows how this inevitable tension will be solved." |
| Until now, Chávez and his aides have stifled discussion about what might happen if the president died. That was largely because this has been an election year and the ruling party did not want voters to think they might ultimately be casting ballots for a second-in-command. But by naming a successor, Chávez has raised the possibility that he might not last another 30 days until his scheduled inauguration on 10 January, in which case another presidential election would have to be called. | Until now, Chávez and his aides have stifled discussion about what might happen if the president died. That was largely because this has been an election year and the ruling party did not want voters to think they might ultimately be casting ballots for a second-in-command. But by naming a successor, Chávez has raised the possibility that he might not last another 30 days until his scheduled inauguration on 10 January, in which case another presidential election would have to be called. |
| "It is my firm opinion, my complete and irrevocable opinion, that under this scenario, you should all vote for Nicolás," he said in Saturday's televised address." | "It is my firm opinion, my complete and irrevocable opinion, that under this scenario, you should all vote for Nicolás," he said in Saturday's televised address." |
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