Hugo Chavez leaves his hospital bed in Cuba to jet back to Venezuela in time for his country’s indepence celebrations. But doubts about the left-wing firebrand’s long-term health still linger.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has made a triumphant appearance in front of a crowd of supporters after undergoing what he said was life-saving treatment for cancer.
Mr Chavez addressed thousands of well-wishers from the balcony of the presidential palace in Caracas for more than half an hour on Sunday night, just hours after returning from Cuba.
He told the crowd: “I can’t be here for very long. I am subject to, and am going to be subject for a while, to strict medical control. You know the reasons why. This battle we are also going to win and we are going to win it together.
“We are going to live together, we are going to win together. Thank you.”
Mr Chavez, who has referred to his treatment as a “battle for life”, added: “Let nobody think my presence here today, July 4, means that we have won. I swear that we will win the battle.”
Details of the leftist leader’s medical condition are not entirely clear, but his ministers insist they have been open and honest with the Venezuelan people.
Long live life! Long live Chavez! Hugo Chavez
Based on Mr Chavez’s own description of his symptoms, experts say it is most likely he has has colorectal cancer, but the president has not said what the type of cancer is or whether he is receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy or another treatment.
He has said he underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumour, and his foreign minister said it was extracted from the same part of the “pelvic region” where Chavez had an abscess removed in Cuba on 11 June.
His supporters had taken to the streets of Caracas all day, chanting: “He’s back! He’s back!” and “Ooh! Aah! He’s here to stay!” after news of the return of their “comandante” spread.
Mr Chavez’s sudden return from Havana, where he had been expected to stay for months, took Venezuelans by surprise.
Analysts said the populist leader had been unable to resist the political theatre of jetting in just in time for two days of celebrations of Venezuela‘s 200th anniversary of independence from Spain.
He donned a military uniform and red beret before taking to the balcony of the Miraflores palace, scene of previous dramatic addresses to the nation, and chanting: “Long live life! Long live Chavez!”
Before speaking from the balcony, Mr Chavez waved a large Venezuelan flag and made the sign of the cross. He later launched into a rendition of the Venezuelan national anthem.
Critics had accused him of flouting the constitution and risking national security by ruling from a hospital in a foreign country.
Opposition Senator Ismael Garcia said: “As happens in any country of the world, when the head of state is sick, he tells the truth to the country.
“And the president while he was there, he was in a very delicate situation, which we understand and with which we stand in solidarity as human beings. But the government, as the head of state himself has said, knew the truth of what was going on and lied to the country.”
But Venezuela’s Vice President Elias Jaua said: “We always spoke the truth from the beginning. The president of Venezuela, when he went, he had no suspicion of what he had. When the president was made aware of evidence of what he had, that is when he decided to inform the Venezuelan people. He never lied to the Venezuelan people.”
Despite projecting a confident image, Mr Chavez hinted that he is still not ready for a full comeback, telling state television that he does not expect to attend independence celebrations on Tuesday.
His surprise return is being interpreted as a message that the president remains in control after weeks of uncertainty about his condition and his ability to fight for power in next year’s elections.
Mr Chavez, who has nationalised much of Venezuela’s economy and led anti-US sentiment in Latin America, has seen his popularity slip in polls, as power shortages, crime and a shortage of affordable housing breed discontent.