Hugo Chávez's creation of a council of state this week has triggered speculation that it is intended as a transitional body in the event that the Venezuelan president's cancer forces him to relinquish power, writes Benedict Mander in Caracas.
Foreign minister Nicolás Maduro did not deny on Wednesday that the council – led by the vice-president and consisting of a former minister, two diplomats, an admiral and a prominent intellectual – had a transitional role. He said its purpose was to “improve government efficiency”.
The socialist leader left Caracas to continue radiotherapy in Cuba on Monday and was therefore unable to lead May Day marches to trumpet a new labour law.
This bolstered suspicions that his health is deteriorating to the point that he will not be able to contest presidential elections, which are due on October 7th.
Nelson Bocaranda, a prominent opposition journalist, has written that the council was designed to prevent a “traumatic” end to Mr Chávez’s rule. – (Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2012)