Venezuela’s government reacted with fury on Friday to US President Barack Obama’s criticism of ailing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s “authoritarian” government at a time of national anxiety over his battle to recover from cancer surgery.
In an interview with US network Univision, Obama declined to speculate on the 58-year-old socialist president’s health in Cuba, where he is in a delicate state after his fourth operation since the middle of last year for cancer in his pelvic region.
However, he did say US policy was aimed at ensuring “freedom” in Venezuela.
“The most important thing is to remember that the future of Venezuela should be in the hands of the Venezuelan people. We’ve seen from Chavez in the past authoritarian policies, suppression of dissent,” Obama said.
Those remarks went down badly with officials in Caracas, where emotions are running high over the future of Chavez and his self-styled revolution in the South American OPEC nation.
In power since 1999, Chavez is due to start a new six-year term on Jan. 10 after winning re-election just weeks before Obama did. His health crisis has thrown that into doubt, and Chavez has named a successor in case he is incapacitated.
“With these despicable comments at such a delicate moment for Venezuela, the US president is responsible for a major deterioration in bilateral relations, proving the continuity of his policy of aggression and disrespect towards our country,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement.
During his tumultuous rule, Chavez has gleefully assumed former Cuban president Fidel Castro’s mantle as Washington’s main irritant in the region — though oil has continued to flow freely north to the benefit of both nations’ economies.
Adored by poor supporters for his charismatic style and channeling of oil revenue into a wide array of welfare projects, Chavez is regarded as a dictator by opponents, who point to his often harsh treatment of political foes.
Officials said that doctors had to use “corrective measures” on Chavez to stop unexpected bleeding caused during Tuesday’s six-hour operation, but that his condition had since improved.
“The patient is fulfilling his post-operation protocol satisfactorily, given the complexity of the surgery,” the latest Venezuelan government statement on his condition said.
“Recovery has been slow, but progressive,” it added, saying Chavez had communicated with relatives and sent greetings to Venezuelans.
Amid rumors Chavez had been unconscious since his operation, Venezuelan presidential press officer Teresa Maniglia indicated he had spoken for the first time on Friday.
“‘How are my people?’ was the first thing Chavez said today when he spoke with his family for the first time,” she said via Twitter.
Chavez’s situation is being closely tracked around the region, especially among fellow leftist-run nations from Cuba to Bolivia, which depend on his generous oil subsidies and other aid for their fragile economies.
“The president is battling hard — this time for his life, before it was for the Latin American fatherland,” said Bolivian President Evo Morales, a Chavez friend and ally who announced he was flying to Havana overnight for an “emergency” visit. “This is very painful for us.”
Venezuela’s leader has not divulged details of the cancer that was first diagnosed in June last year, sparking endless speculation among the country’s 29 million people and criticism from opposition leaders for lack of transparency.
“They’re hiding something, I think,” 57-year-old housewife Alicia Marquina said. “I’m not convinced by the announcements they’re making. I’m not a chavista, but neither am I cruel. I hope he does not suffer much and finds peace.”
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