CARACAS (Reuters) – the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, said that the first session of radiotherapy for cancer suffering from and which will continue his treatment on the island, a procedure that could weaken it with a view to the elections which will seek a new re-election this year in Cuba began Saturday.
Chavez arrived in Havana on Saturday night, two days before Pope Benedict XVI arrives to the island from Mexico.
“We arrived last night at Havana and last night applied me the first session of radiotherapy, fortunately without any problem.” “Today, Sunday 25, the night early have the second application, are five consecutive applications at this early stage,” said the President on Sunday in a telephone contact with the State television VTV channel.
Added that he plans to be back in Venezuela on Thursday and said a few days later he travel to Cuba once again to undergo a second round of radiation therapy, but not specified will culminate when the full treatment.
“this is radiation therapy, for those who do not know: are five consecutive sessions and two days of rest”, explained Chavez after magazine in remotely to a project in the State central Cojedes.
While the Representative initiated treatment – whose side effects could limit their participation in Venezuelan daily politics during the harshest campaign since to power in 1999, thousands of supporters organized a walk in the interior of the country to ask about their health.
we know that Commander Chavez will return victorious to continue at the forefront of our people”, said the Minister of Interior, Tareck El KSM, who led the March.
From the surgery practiced in June to remove a cancerous tumor the size of a baseball, the Venezuelan President has been traveling constantly to Cuba to be treated for his illness.
Analysts believe that in addition to its close relationship with the former President Fidel Castro, who often called father, Chávez search in Havana privacy and tranquility while refusing to reveal details of his condition, resurfaced in February after that in 2011 the President be declared cured.
The new arrival of Chavez to Havana will coincide with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, which has stoked speculation about the preparation of a meeting between the two at a time in which the President employs the spirituality in his speeches.
However, a Vatican spokesman said from Mexico that does not handle official information about the eventual meeting.
“didn’t have this information (…)” “We are not informed in this regard,” said Federico Lombardi Saturday night.
Venezuelan Government officials were not available for comment on the version.
Despite proclaiming Christ follower and use biblical quotations in his speeches, Chávez is faced with the Catholic hierarchs in Venezuela, who has come to be called “devils with cassock”, accusing them of allying with the elites of the oil country to derail his “socialist revolution”.
The retired military assures that the Venezuelan Catholic leaders gave the blessing to the coup d ’ état that pulled him out of power for a few days in 2002.
Impact in presidential race
Treatment of Chavez, 57, has monopolized the Venezuelan political agenda presidential elections less than six months, while the Venezuelans and markets are wondering if the Socialist leader will be in shape to fight for a new mandate of six years.
Concerns about the health of the representative and his capacity to face a new electoral battle rise to approaching the month of July, date in which formally begin campaigns.
Convalescent representative must be measured in October with young Governor Henrique Capriles, 39 years, after becoming the only opposition candidate in February has launched a tour House to house looking for seducing the supporters of the ruling party.
However, there are contradictory versions between the intention of vote towards the popular and loquacious President.
Three recent polls give him an advantage of more than 20 points over Capriles, although a respected pollster says that the President and opposition leader are in a technical tie that will reject by the undecided.
“Part of my job is life, that is not my life, is of the people (…)” “Thank you so much for that love, that deployment of these prayers”, said Chávez before say goodbye to.
Chavez, who this time not requested permission of the National Assembly to leave as it did during chemotherapy treatment which was submitted last year, clarified that his trips to Havana will be short-lived.
A medical source close to the case of Chávez said the Caracas military Hospital ended walls of lead implementation in one of their apartments, so it is ready to apply radiotherapy to the representative, he said that it could be part of their treatment in the country.
The opposition rejects the frequent absences of the ruler, who has worked to address acts of Government from Havana and provide guidelines to his ministers through contacts with the State media, but has not delegated powers to the Vice President.
(Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg in León, Mexico.) (Edited by Enrique Andrés Giraldo pretzel/Marion)
