Chavez Heading To Cuba For More Cancer Treatment

Just months after being re-elected, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez announced that his cancer has returned and that he’s heading back to Cuba for more cancer treatment:

 

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela’s ailing President Hugo Chavez flew to Cuba on Monday for cancer surgery, vowing to return quickly despite his unprecedented admission the disease could end his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC nation.

“I leave full of hope. We are warriors, full of light and faith,” the ever-upbeat Chavez said before boarding the flight to Havana. “I hope to be back soon.”

Chavez pumped a fist in the air as he set off for the latest chapter of a tumultuous rule that has seen a brief coup against him, waves of industry nationalizations, a crippling oil strike and heightened acrimony with the United States.

The 58-year-old socialist leader is facing his fourth operation since mid-2011 for a third bout of an undisclosed form of cancer in the pelvic area. The news sparked a rally in Venezuela bonds on Monday, given many investors’ preference for more a business-friendly government in Caracas.

Chavez stunned Venezuelans over the weekend with his announcement that more malignant cells had been found, despite twice declaring himself completely cured in the past.

He won re-election in October and is due to start a new six-year term on January 10. Chavez’s departure from office, either before or after that date, would trigger a vote within 30 days.

It would also mark the end of an era given his flamboyant leadership of Latin America’s hard left and self-appointed role as Washington’s main provocateur in the region.

Chavez has named Vice President and Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro as his preferred successor, urging supporters to vote for Maduro in the event of an election.

“I trust completely in my soldiers,” Chavez said, dressed in a blue-and-white track suit, during the swearing-in of a new defense minister before his departure.

“The republic and the revolution are in good hands.”

That sounds like someone who doesn’t expect to survive much longer but, of course, Chavez has been “near death” almost has many times as his ally Fidel Castro so don’t hold your breath.

FILED UNDER: Latin America, World Politics, , , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Anderson says:

    Anyone who’s relying on CUBA for serious medical treatment, already has one foot in the grave.

  2. Jenos Idanian #13 says:

    An intriguing medical mystery… what does it mean when the patient is more malignant than the cancer?