Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chavez, has for the first time named a successor raising the prospect of his departure after 14 years in power.
Venezuelans were stunned on the weekend when it was announced that Chavez had suffered a setback in his long-term battle with cancer and will be seeking further medical treatment in Cuba.
He named Vice President and Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro to take over, should he become incapacitated.
“There is risk in this process that you can’t deny,” Chavez said in a national television and radio address. “If something happens that disables me some way, my irrevocable opinion is that you should elect Nicolas Maduro as the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”
Chavez, 58, has undergone three surgeries to remove two tumors since June 2011.
Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, has been Chavez’s closet ally since he came to power.
Although the ailing leader’s choice is widely supported among the poor, observers say a succession battle involving the more business-friendly, military wing of his movement and against a revitalized opposition is only beginning as his grip on power weakens.
“In the short-term, Maduro is empowered but we don’t know what will happen afterwards,” Luis Vicente Leon, president of Caracas-based polling firm Datanalisis, said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg. “It’s one thing for Chavez, alive and in power, to exorcize internal arguments, but we’ll have to see how the infighting can be covered up without him there.”
But this was far from Chavez’s mind when he addressed Venezuela on the weekend. “It’s my firm opinion, clear like a full moon, irrevocable, absolute, total, that in a scenario that would oblige new presidential elections that you should elect Nicolas Maduro,” Chavez said while calling upon Venezuelans to show “unity, unity, unity” in the days and weeks ahead.
It is time that we must understand that the only supreme being is the most high and we are just on borrowed time.
With Gaddafi gone, Castro gone, Chevez going and Jintao going soon, where we gon get money? Bondiux, look down on us!
God has always been watching on us
so he finally admits that he must die…
Dictators always hand pic their successors regardless of their capabilities……..just look here and see the same trend
I hope when Skerrit loses his case,he doesn’t follow the footsteps of the man he refers to as his dad.Let democracy takes it rightful place.
thank The Good lord almight that he is still sitting on his thrown and no Skerrit or chavez and can remove him or stop him from saving his people, So Skerrit talking about staying in office for 5oyrs i hope he realize he can be cut down in a secornd and no question ask because we cannot question the almight above, also let me see how much millions he will have to buy election again……………thank God for who is he, he is most powerful one forever……..chavez good luck.
Amen
Thank God for what? the man having cancer? Just asking and I will comment no further, because I will give you the benefit of a doubt that you are not praising God over a mere human getting cancer.
It is not ungodly to set goals and work towards them.
long live Hugo Chavez. Viva venezuela viva Dominica. Viva PM Skerrit. have no fear, just continue doing what you have to do…best wishes n speedy recovery.gracias !!!
MAY THE LORD BLESS AND STRENGTHEN YOU HUGO CHAVEZ… MY PRAYERS ARE YOU YOU SIR…
go and look for work to do dam lazy just sitting around bad mouthing the Prime Minister and all you always in the Red Clinic
Dreamer, tell them that again
Dreamer if what you said is true. They go to the Red Clinic simply because its all of us Tax Money and not Labouites own only. What do you think?
@DREAMER… The Red Clinic is you home man? How comes you know that so well. Your lazy! Go find a job. Stop picking crumbs.
dominica is on chavez will
y
my way. do not rejoice over a man’s illness. yours might be next.
Finally Chavez stops hiding and denying. The fact that he made a public confession of his illness and for the first time named a successor, leads me to believe that he feels down and out. Anyway I wish him all the best and speedy recovery. That sure is not good news for us in Dominica and the red clinic must be praying for him.
Am no supporter of cheves ideology,however i wish you all the best.may good be with you.
The best known description of the emotional response to a life threatening disease or a life changing situation is the the Kubler-Ross model often described by Psychologists as the 5 stages of death and dying. They are:
Stage 1: Denial ( Chavez’ response – I dont’ have cancer; it was just a routine operation in Cuba)
Stage 2: Anger (Chavez’ response – the US is to blame. They are giving cancer to all Latin American leaders)
Stage 3: Bargaining – (Chavez’ response – I am still very healthy and I am going to run for a third term. I will pray publicly to the Holy Mother because I have so much left to do for Venezuela and maybe she’ll give me some more time)
Stage 4: Depression – Chavez response I will also cry publicly; Am just so sad!
Stage 5: Acceptance (Chavez’ response – I can’t fight this thing. It’s inevitable and I may as well prepare for it by naming my successor.)The spirit of Simon Bolivar, the Liberator !
That is exactly what I am remembering here. DENIAL. Now look at this.
Very interesting observation.
skerrit will get dont worry tax payers there for that
Hmmmm so Chavez finally realize that is Our Father that’s in charge and not him?
so how is it a democratic country and he have to select who he wants to replace him i tought when the man in charge dies u vote or the vp automatically gets it only in a dictatorship does the pm select his own speaacial person to take over
His way of choosing his successor is asking endorsing someone. He did not say that the person will replace him but he recommended that the people vote for that person. In case you haven’t noticed that happens all over the world in every democracy. Every one usually has a preference of who they would like to take over their responsibilities but it is up to the people to choose. But you should also more that Mr Chavez may have been the type of leader his country required. Since their is already talk of the military taking over and the anti opposition push. Whilst democracy is a noble ideal not every country and people are suited for such leadership style. I expect to be attacked for saying this but in some where there are different warring factions and tribes they sometimes need a leader who will dictate what should be.when these leaders are removed the turmoil and blood shed and even the replacement leaders can be worse. Take Egypt and Libya for example.
All the Best Charvez…
Man must realise they are never in control..
Lesson for those who get excited saying they will Rule for so many years to come…need to reflect On Life..
It’s Time Leaders serve for two terms…
Blacks are not able to be above board when Mandated with Leadership, it totally screws and Clouds their mindset..
Please don’t let Power get to your heads Leaders.
Yes I! Bus Driver for President.
Ronald Reagan was an actor and he served 2 terms, so apparently his previous profession didn’t incapacitate him from doing his job…!
actor is a job which has paid the highest wages as compared to a bus driver….
your caomparism of the men is not a good one, you make no sense
And Ronald Reagan was also senile towards the end of his term.
Ronald Reagan served as the Governor of Califonia before running for president. He was an actor in his young days.
And your point is? The man was a bus driver ages ago, Bubbles sold crabs ages ago, so many of us work in bars and restaurants and we became managers and permanent secretaries in DA. American students clean toilets to send themselves to college and they get high paying jobs and powerful positions so whats your point? Then again a worthful person would not make such a comment.
your response is all so convoluted. You used Bubbles as references, you used college students who worked odd jobs to earn income, what you don’t realize that these odd jobs were to help them to a career. ( your example not mine). What is the education level of the bus driver you would like to see become president.. Then you continue… to get high paying jobs and powerful positions, hence my comment.. ” A bus Driver for President?” YEs I!! You may want to reconsider that worthless person conclusion.
So because someone was a bus driver are you saying that they are not suited for leadership positions. Typical Dominican crabs in a barrel. One should always stay at the bottom and never aspire for greatness. That’s why alot of Dominicans will leave because people like you will always bring up how poor they were where they worked so as to prevent them reaching higher levels.
A bus driver does not have any qualification to be the leader of a country. The leader of the bus drivers association yes. Leader for the PTA yes. Leader Taxi association yes.. So yes I agree with you, A bus driver can become a great leader.
This is the best truth I have read on DNO. You are so correct.
Like I said earlier you crabs in a barrel.,he was a former bus driver why can’t he work his way up? What are his qualifications? stop being closed minded. There are cab drivers in the US with doctorates if they become of some fortune 500 company are you going to say how can a cab driver become a CEO.
Explain to Formula 1 that all bus drivers are not uneducated. Does formula 1 know the educational background of that particular person? Btw did you hear that he was a bus driver a long time ago? Stop judging people by your own standard, people who drive buses sometimes improve themselves by continuing their education but maybe that is too much for your simple mind.
i wonder how d red wave feeling now. look another sponsor seem to be kisking d bucket. skerrit where is d mony going to come from . d diables!!!
You dont fear God? you mean to tell me thats the best comment you can post MA-GRAY-SA.wen will u all stop putting politic in matters like that who know if u cannot die before chavez? LORD HAVE MERCY for their ignorance
Well is so allu make it eh
Grab a dictionary !
Be careful, be very very careful when you are refering to people who are terminally ill! It does not matter what the person was, just be very very careful what you say in this regard, that is all I will tell you now.
Boss you really foolish, in ay case we have a relationship with VENEZUELA and that will continue….
You so narrow i think you need to start following world politics on TV stop listening to those zeyzey on q…… it making you very very foolish and ppl will laugh at you!!!
It is amazing how stupid you can be. Your ignorance is beyond all common sense.
Do you know that the USA is in debt greatly to China. While they don’t want Dominica to deal with China they are begging China. Some of the biggest oil companies in the State get gas from Venezuela.
Please don’t be to stupid – it is a sin