• Hugo Chávez fights for life as supporters pray in Venezuela
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[quote]The change of mood in Plaza Bolivar could hardly be more dramatic. Less than three months ago, jubilant crowds filled the main square in Caracas to celebrate another election triumph for [URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/hugo-chavez"]Hugo Chávez[/URL] with chants of "[I]Oo, ah, Chávez no se va[/I]" – Chávez won't go.Now, however, supporters wait anxiously for any scrap of news from Havana, Cuba, where their president is fighting for his life after emergency cancer surgery. "We are all very confused. We have no idea what to expect. I pray for his recovery but I am expecting the worst," said Joaquín Cavarcas, as he scanned the Ciudad CCS newspaper for the latest update. Next Thursday, Chávez is supposed to be inaugurated for a further six-year term of office at a ceremony at the National Assembly, a short walk from the plaza. But the usually gregarious, publicity-loving president has not been seen or heard since his operation on 11 December, prompting speculation that he will not recover in time. In the latest in a series of grave bulletins, the government said on Thursday that the president was suffering from [URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/04/hugo-chavez-severe-lung-infection"]complications brought on by a severe lung infection[/URL] after surgery. Aides earlier described his condition as "delicate". The Bolivian president, Evo Morales, said it was painful to see his close political ally in this state. "The situation for our brother Hugo Chávez is very worrying," he said. With information scarce, rumours abound. Spain's ABC newspaper claimed the president was in a coma and kept alive by a life-support system. Social networks are abuzz with speculation that he is already dead. Ministers and ruling party officials have lined up to deny such reports.[URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/venezuela"]Venezuela[/URL]'s vice-president, Nicolás Maduro, has told the country to ignore "enemy" rumours of Chávez's imminent demise. On Friday, he accused ABC of being funded by the extreme right which had backed General Franco's "despicable regime" in Spain. On the streets, nobody is giving up on Chávez, but there is a growing resignation that he will not attend his swearing-in as scheduled. "We must wait for him to recover and then swear him into office," said Ruben Daza, a newspaper vendor. "I don't think he'll be back next week. The assembly will have to decide what to do in the meantime, but he is the president and we must wait for his return." Posters hanging from street lamps show Chávez alongside his daughter pointing down on a sea of supporters with a caption: "Now, more than ever, we are with Chávez." But questions remain over the legal status of the president-elect if he fails to show up for his inauguration. The constitution stipulates the need for a new poll if the president dies or suffers permanent physical or mental disability before inauguration. Article 233 notes: "When there is an absolute absence of the president-elect before taking office, there shall be a new election by universal, direct and secret vote within the next 30 consecutive days." Until the vote, the interim president should be the head of the national assembly. He is Diosdado Cabello – a former military officer and old ally of Chávez and head of a faction within the ruling camp. If there were an election, he would be likely to run the government, while another ruling party figurehead, Maduro, would campaign for a six-year term. In his last public broadcast before leaving for Havana, Chávez urged Venezuelans to vote for Maduro if he became incapacitated. However, other scenarios are possible. The constitution also states that the president-elect can take the oath of office before the supreme court, which is packed with Chávez appointees. Whether he could do this in a foreign hospital is uncertain. According to Nicmer Evans, a professor of political science at the Central University of Venezuela, only a medical team approved by the supreme court can determine if Chávez is unable to govern. For now, Evans says, the president has not resigned so his absence cannot be considered absolute. If he is unable to be sworn into office, Evans thinks the government could call for a provisional "junta" or the supreme justice could declare Chávez's absence temporary, allowing Maduro to stand in for 90 days or until a medical team declares otherwise. If Chavéz is incapacitated merely in the short term, Jose Ignacio Hernandez, a law professor at the Central University of Venezuela, said the outcome that would best represent the will of the people would be for the head of the National Assembly – Cabello – to temporarily assume power. This is possible under the constitution for a 90-day period, which can be extended for a further 90 days if the assembly approves. Michael Shifter, head of the Inter-American Dialogue thinktank in Washington DC, said a postponement of the swearing-in ceremony was increasingly likely. "It is hard to imagine that he will be inaugurated on the 10th," he said. "I think they will just try to put it off and figure out what to do – whether to do it later or call elections." This, he said, was likely to strengthen the hand of the ruling party and put pressure on an opposition that already appears divided over the correct interpretation of the constitution. Riding a huge wave of emotion, Maduro would then be likely to win any election. His problems, however, would begin once he took power and started to address some of the tough financial and social problems facing Venezuela while trying to maintain unity in a ruling bloc. "There is clearly going to be a power struggle within Chavismo," said Shifter. "Cabello is head of a rival faction and in a strong position. He is a crafty guy and he has been waiting a long time. He will follow Chávez's wishes for now, but it's unclear how long that will last, especially if the armed forces end up playing an important role." Maduro and Cabello have both been at Chávez's bedside this week. When they returned to Venezuela on Thursday, they dismissed rumours of a rift as an opposition ploy. "We're more unified than ever," said Maduro. "We swore in front of Commander Chávez that we will be united at the side of our people." For many of his supporters, it is unimaginable that anyone could fully replace Chávez, who has dominated the nation's politics for 14 years. But even if their worst fears are realised, they say Chávez's legacy will endure. "I want President Chávez to come back, I've prayed for his health from the beginning, but at this point I've lost all hope. I think the president of the assembly should take over and call for elections in the next 90 days and may the best man win. It's what the constitution says," said Sixto Zambrano, a retired soldier. "I've always liked Chávez, since the day I saw him as a young man speaking in the barracks, but I've seen how cancer goes and one cannot go against that." "No one has his charisma," Cavarcas said. "There will be no leader like him. No one comes close to him, but the revolution and Chavismo won't end. As long as there are one or two of us left to take this forward, this process will continue."[/quote] [url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/04/hugo-chavez-fights-life-venezuela[/url] Damn,i hope he pulls trough.
Fuck him.
I honestly don't like this guy as president, but I don't want him to die either. [editline]5th January 2013[/editline] Also, from what I've heard he's in a heavy comma, so yeah.
I never know what to think when a dictator could die. On the one hand the country is better off without them, but on the other I kind of feel I'll miss them. Like when Gaddafi died, felt kind of sad knowing the world would no longer have melty face on it.
[QUOTE=iRunner;39106723]I honestly don't like this guy as president, but I don't want him to die either. [editline]5th January 2013[/editline] Also, from what I've heard he's in a heavy comma, so yeah.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/fnkg7.jpg[/IMG]
Nobody deserves to die of cancer. Truly I don't wish Chavez any ill, with his death nothing good will come, people tend to forget he is a family man, and regardless on how I don't approve of his mandate or his views, I genuinely wish for him to actually make through with it and be able to spend some time with his family. Not too long ago, I had a relative die of cancer, and I know just how difficult it can be for the family. However, the deliberate lies, the misinformation and the stall tactics the current government, and Vicepresident Maduro have said through the media are just ludicrous. The Venezuelan people voted for a president, and they deserve to know what is going on with that president. Thus far nobody has truly said what he has, why hasn't he said a single word or made a single appearance in 3 weeks now (He didn't give either the Christmas or New Year's messages that are now customary). We don't know if he'll get better, we don't know if he's in a coma or not. Within the ranks of the government misinformation is being spread, with Maduro saying that he spoke to the president as he was "jogging" the very same day the Minister of Health said the president was in a "very delicate" state. The constitution says it clearly, after the Presidential elections, there is a set day where the swearing in has to happen, that is Article 231 of the Venezuelan constitution. Here, I'll translate it for your viewing pleasure. [quote=Venezuelan Constitution, Article 231]The elected candidate will take possession of the Presidency of the Republic in January 10th of the first year of his or her constitutional period, through swearing in before the National Assembly. If by any reason, the President of the Republic could not take possession before the National Assembly, he or she will do so before the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. [I]El candidato elegido o candidata elegida tomará posesión del cargo de Presidente o Presidenta de la República el diez de enero del primer año de su período constitucional, mediante juramento ante la Asamblea Nacional. Si por cualquier motivo sobrevenido el Presidente o Presidenta de la República no pudiese tomar posesión ante la Asamblea Nacional, lo hará ante el Tribunal Supremo de Justicia.[/I][/quote] Calling for new elections is the proper course of action here. We simply do not know when will Chavez regain his health, or if he ever will. The country deserves to have an elected president. The refusal to call for elections by the current government is unconstitutional and reprehensible.
[B]as supporters pray in Venezuela[/B] :v:
I genuinely don't like Chavez, I think he's a corrupt liar, but he doesn't necessarily directly kill people, so I just want him to step down.
They should wash out his blood with Risperidone. I might not cure his cancer but it might help him stop being such a crazy fucking whackjob.
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