Concern over Hugo Chávez’s latest session of cancer treatment in Cuba has arisen after a distinct silence from the usually vocal president.
With his only communication coming from his Twitter page, discussion of Chávez’s health has been rife on social networking sites over the weekend. In previous sessions in Cuba, Chávez had periodically appeared on television, suggesting that he was still working despite his absence.
Many Venezuelans believe the president’s silence may be an indication of poor health or even death, or a particularly difficult stage in his cancer treatment, which Chávez himself had predicted.
The silence comes despite governmental promises that Venezuelans would be kept up to date with the president’s health. The specific nature of the cancer, as well as the location of the tumour has so far been kept secret, fuelling the rumours surrounding the president’s health.
However, ministers of the Socialist Party have denied the false rumours. The president of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello has stressed that Chávez is making a full recovery.
Speaking from his Twitter page, Cabello added: “People have been saying for days that the president is dead, here – the only thing that is dead is the opposition.”
Since the 24th March, Chávez has been undergoing the final stage of his cancer treatment in Cuba, a month after an operation on a tumour in the pelvic area.
