Globovisión En Vivo by Globovision
Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro is giving a press conference on the worsening health of President Hugo Chavez, who has been clinging to life since his fourth surgery for an undisclosed cancer in December.
Maduro says Venezuela is expelling the U.S. diplomatic attaché and claims that Chavez's cancer is an attack by his enemies.
Earlier today, the Venezuelan government released a statement on Chavez's health, saying:
"From today, there has been deterioration in his respiratory performance, related to the immunodeficiency of his current clinical condition. At present he is suffering from a new and serious respiratory infection.
"The president has been receiving intense chemotherapy, as well as other complementary treatments, with the dosage according to the development of his clinical state.
"His general state of health continues to be very delicate.
"The president is taking refuge in Christ and in life, conscious of the difficulties that he is facing and strictly following the program designed by his medical team."
In a bombastic press conference, Maduro lamented Chavez's failing health.
It appears that Maduro may be positioning himself to take over after Chavez either steps down, dies, or is declared incapacitated. Chavez has only appeared in public once since his surgery, and the moderate opposition has called for him to step down to allow a more capable person to take over the governing of the country.
Chavez was unable to attend his reinauguration in early January due to his slow recuperation, but the Venezuelan Supreme Court, which has ties to Chavez, declared that the swearing in ceremony was merely a formality and could be completed at a later date.
Henrique Capriles, who lost last year's election to Chavez, insists the government has been concealing the gravity of Chavez's condition, a charge that seems borne out by today's announcement.