Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez may take the oath of office for his next term at a later date if he is unable to be sworn in during his scheduled inauguration next week due to health issues, his vice president said. 

Chavez is fighting a severe respiratory infection and had a fourth cancer operation three weeks ago. He has not been seen in public since the operation. 

Vice President Nicolas Maduro said on state television Friday that Chavez, 58, is “fighting for his health” after cancer surgery. According to CNN, he criticized the opposition for trying to take advantage of the situation and steal power. 

The country’s constitution says that the swearing-in should occur on Jan. 10 in front of the National Assembly. Some opposition leaders have said that if the ailing president isn’t able to make it on that date, the president of the National Assembly should take over as interim president, the Associated Press reported. 

Maduro held up a small blue copy of the constitution during Friday’s televised interview, according to the AP, and read aloud passages while arguing that Chavez’s opponents were interpreting it incorrectly. 

“They should respect our constitution,” Maduro said. “The formality of his swearing-in can be resolved before the Supreme Court of Justice, at the time [the court] deems in coordination with the head of state, Commander Hugo Chavez.”

According to CNN, the constitution states that if Chavez is unable to be sworn in before lawmakers on Jan. 10, he can be sworn in before the Venezuelan Supreme Court. The document’s wording is unclear, however, whether the alternate swearing-in must happen on Jan. 10, if it must occur inside the country and who should hold the role as president in the meantime. 

 

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