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| Venezuela hits out at Barack Obama's remarks on 'authoritarian' Hugo Chávez | Venezuela hits out at Barack Obama's remarks on 'authoritarian' Hugo Chávez |
| (4 months later) | |
| Venezuela's government reacted with fury on Friday to criticism by the US president, Barack Obama, of Hugo Chávez's "authoritarian" government at a time of national anxiety over his battle to recover from cancer surgery. | Venezuela's government reacted with fury on Friday to criticism by the US president, Barack Obama, of Hugo Chávez's "authoritarian" government at a time of national anxiety over his battle to recover from cancer surgery. |
| In an interview with the US TV network Univision, Obama declined to speculate on the health of the 58-year-old socialist president who is in a delicate state in Cuba after his fourth operation since mid-2011 for cancer in his pelvic region. | In an interview with the US TV network Univision, Obama declined to speculate on the health of the 58-year-old socialist president who is in a delicate state in Cuba after his fourth operation since mid-2011 for cancer in his pelvic region. |
| But he did say US policy was aimed at ensuring "freedom" in Venezuela. "The most important thing is to remember that the future of Venezuela should be in the hands of the Venezuelan people. We've seen from Chávez in the past authoritarian policies, suppression of dissent," Obama said. | But he did say US policy was aimed at ensuring "freedom" in Venezuela. "The most important thing is to remember that the future of Venezuela should be in the hands of the Venezuelan people. We've seen from Chávez in the past authoritarian policies, suppression of dissent," Obama said. |
| Those remarks went down badly with officials in Caracas where emotions are running high over the future of Chávez and his self-styled revolution. | Those remarks went down badly with officials in Caracas where emotions are running high over the future of Chávez and his self-styled revolution. |
| In power since 1999, Chávez is due to start a new six-year term on 10 January after winning re-election just weeks before Obama did. His health crisis has thrown that into doubt, and Chávez has named a successor in case he is incapacitated. | In power since 1999, Chávez is due to start a new six-year term on 10 January after winning re-election just weeks before Obama did. His health crisis has thrown that into doubt, and Chávez has named a successor in case he is incapacitated. |
| "With these despicable comments at such a delicate moment for Venezuela, the US president is responsible for a major deterioration in bilateral relations, proving the continuity of his policy of aggression and disrespect towards our country," the Venezuelan government said in a statement. | "With these despicable comments at such a delicate moment for Venezuela, the US president is responsible for a major deterioration in bilateral relations, proving the continuity of his policy of aggression and disrespect towards our country," the Venezuelan government said in a statement. |
| Chávez has gleefully assumed former Cuban leader Fidel Castro's mantle as Washington's main irritant in the region - though oil has continued to flow freely north to the benefit of both nations' economies. | Chávez has gleefully assumed former Cuban leader Fidel Castro's mantle as Washington's main irritant in the region - though oil has continued to flow freely north to the benefit of both nations' economies. |
| Adored by poor supporters for his charismatic style and channelling of oil revenue into a wide array of welfare projects, Chávez is regarded as a dictator by opponents who point to his often harsh treatment of political foes. | Adored by poor supporters for his charismatic style and channelling of oil revenue into a wide array of welfare projects, Chávez is regarded as a dictator by opponents who point to his often harsh treatment of political foes. |
| Officials said doctors had to use "corrective measures" on Chávez to stop unexpected bleeding caused during Tuesday's six-hour operation, but that his condition had since improved. | Officials said doctors had to use "corrective measures" on Chávez to stop unexpected bleeding caused during Tuesday's six-hour operation, but that his condition had since improved. |
| "The patient is fulfilling his post-operation protocol satisfactorily, given the complexity of the surgery," said the latest Venezuelan government statement on his condition. "Recovery has been slow but progressive," it added, saying Chávez had communicated with relatives and sent greetings to Venezuelans. | "The patient is fulfilling his post-operation protocol satisfactorily, given the complexity of the surgery," said the latest Venezuelan government statement on his condition. "Recovery has been slow but progressive," it added, saying Chávez had communicated with relatives and sent greetings to Venezuelans. |
| Amid rumors that Chávez had been unconscious since his operation, presidential press officer Teresa Maniglia indicated he had spoken for the first time on Friday. "'How are my people?' was the first thing Chávez said today when he spoke with his family for the first time," she said on Twitter. | Amid rumors that Chávez had been unconscious since his operation, presidential press officer Teresa Maniglia indicated he had spoken for the first time on Friday. "'How are my people?' was the first thing Chávez said today when he spoke with his family for the first time," she said on Twitter. |
| Chávez's situation is being closely tracked around the region, especially among fellow leftist-run nations from Cuba to Bolivia, which depend on his generous oil subsidies and other aid for their economies. | Chávez's situation is being closely tracked around the region, especially among fellow leftist-run nations from Cuba to Bolivia, which depend on his generous oil subsidies and other aid for their economies. |
| "The president is battling hard - this time for his life, before it was for the Latin American fatherland," said Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, a friend and ally who announced he was flying to Havana overnight for an "emergency" visit. "This is very painful for us." | "The president is battling hard - this time for his life, before it was for the Latin American fatherland," said Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, a friend and ally who announced he was flying to Havana overnight for an "emergency" visit. "This is very painful for us." |
| Venezuela's leader has not divulged details of the cancer that was first diagnosed in June 2011, sparking endless speculation among the country's 29 million people and criticism from opposition leaders for lack of transparency. | Venezuela's leader has not divulged details of the cancer that was first diagnosed in June 2011, sparking endless speculation among the country's 29 million people and criticism from opposition leaders for lack of transparency. |
| "They're hiding something, I think," said 57-year-old housewife Alicia Marquina. "I'm not convinced by the announcements they're making. I'm not a chavista, but neither am I cruel. I hope he does not suffer much and finds peace." | "They're hiding something, I think," said 57-year-old housewife Alicia Marquina. "I'm not convinced by the announcements they're making. I'm not a chavista, but neither am I cruel. I hope he does not suffer much and finds peace." |
| If Chávez has to leave office, new elections must be held within 30 days. Chávez has named his vice president, Nicolás Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver and union leader, as his heir apparent. | If Chávez has to leave office, new elections must be held within 30 days. Chávez has named his vice president, Nicolás Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver and union leader, as his heir apparent. |
| Henrique Capriles, who lost the presidential race against Chávez in October, is the favourite to face Maduro should a new vote be held, though the governor of Miranda state must first retain his post in local elections on Sunday. | Henrique Capriles, who lost the presidential race against Chávez in October, is the favourite to face Maduro should a new vote be held, though the governor of Miranda state must first retain his post in local elections on Sunday. |
| "The regime change is already occurring," said the managing director of Jefferies and Co, Siobhan Morden, in one of numerous Wall Street analyses of events in Venezuela. "The question is whether the alternative is Chavista-lite or the opposition." | "The regime change is already occurring," said the managing director of Jefferies and Co, Siobhan Morden, in one of numerous Wall Street analyses of events in Venezuela. "The question is whether the alternative is Chavista-lite or the opposition." |
| Even if he dies, Chávez is likely to cast a long shadow over Venezuela's political landscape for years - not unlike Argentine leader Juan Perón, whose 1950s populism is still the ideological foundation of the country's dominant political party. | Even if he dies, Chávez is likely to cast a long shadow over Venezuela's political landscape for years - not unlike Argentine leader Juan Perón, whose 1950s populism is still the ideological foundation of the country's dominant political party. |
| There are parallels with the situation in Cuba too, where Chávez's close friend and mentor, Fidel Castro, suffered a downturn in health, underwent various operations in secret, then eventually handed over power to his brother Raúl Castro. | There are parallels with the situation in Cuba too, where Chávez's close friend and mentor, Fidel Castro, suffered a downturn in health, underwent various operations in secret, then eventually handed over power to his brother Raúl Castro. |
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