Analysts: Chavez illness sparks power struggle
Jul 3, 2011 0:25:06 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 3, 2011 0:25:06 GMT -5
Analysts: Chavez illness sparks power struggle in Venezuela
By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN
July 1, 2011 9:10 a.m. EDT
(CNN) -- With no heir-apparent to Venezuela's presidency waiting in the wings, politicians are jockeying for power as President Hugo Chavez undergoes medical treatment in Cuba, analysts said.
The Venezuelan leader has kept a notably low profile in the nearly three weeks since officials first announced that doctors operated on him, sparking rampant speculation about his health and the country's political future.
His revelation Thursday night that doctors in Cuba had removed a cancerous tumor is likely to further fuel dissent in the ranks of Chavez's supporters, one former Venezuelan official said.
"The main conflicts are inside the Chavez forces, with different factions, over who is going to be the successor," said Moises Naim, a former Venezuelan trade minister who is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Chavez said Thursday night that he had remained in close contact with Venezuelan leaders and continued to command the country's government from Havana. He said he was still undergoing treatment, adding that his condition was "evolving satisfactorily."
Appearing live on state television shortly after Chavez's speech, Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua called for unity.
"There is no time for sadness, but time for reflection, for courage and for work," he said, standing beside a group of government ministers.
But some analysts said Chavez's illness has already transformed the public's perception of his government, no matter how his treatment proceeds.
Rest of story and video at link:
www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/07/01/venezuela.chavez.politics/index.html?eref=rss_world&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_world+%28RSS%3A+World%29
By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN
July 1, 2011 9:10 a.m. EDT
(CNN) -- With no heir-apparent to Venezuela's presidency waiting in the wings, politicians are jockeying for power as President Hugo Chavez undergoes medical treatment in Cuba, analysts said.
The Venezuelan leader has kept a notably low profile in the nearly three weeks since officials first announced that doctors operated on him, sparking rampant speculation about his health and the country's political future.
His revelation Thursday night that doctors in Cuba had removed a cancerous tumor is likely to further fuel dissent in the ranks of Chavez's supporters, one former Venezuelan official said.
"The main conflicts are inside the Chavez forces, with different factions, over who is going to be the successor," said Moises Naim, a former Venezuelan trade minister who is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Chavez said Thursday night that he had remained in close contact with Venezuelan leaders and continued to command the country's government from Havana. He said he was still undergoing treatment, adding that his condition was "evolving satisfactorily."
Appearing live on state television shortly after Chavez's speech, Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua called for unity.
"There is no time for sadness, but time for reflection, for courage and for work," he said, standing beside a group of government ministers.
But some analysts said Chavez's illness has already transformed the public's perception of his government, no matter how his treatment proceeds.
Rest of story and video at link:
www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/07/01/venezuela.chavez.politics/index.html?eref=rss_world&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_world+%28RSS%3A+World%29
