Venezuela

• Tuesday, December 11th 2012 - 05:56 UTC

  Maduro prays and pledges loyalty ‘beyond life’ on replacing Chavez

  

  Venezuelan Vice president Nicolas Maduro prayed on Monday for the quick recovery of leader Hugo Chavez and pledged loyalty “beyond life” in his first action as head of the Executive.

• Monday, December 10th 2012 - 05:37 UTC

  If Chavez does not show up on January 10, new presidential election

  

  With Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in Cuba for his fourth cancer surgery in two years and after naming Vice President and Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro as his successor if anything were to go wrong, the Constitution of the country contemplates several options, including new elections.

• Sunday, December 9th 2012 - 19:55 UTC

  Maduro, the most faithful bus driver, but also the most powerful Bolivarian coupe

  

  The heir-designate of President Hugo Chavez is a former bus driver and trade unionist with the Caracas public transport. Nicolás Maduro, 50, has been foreign minister since 2006 and also was named vice president in October. As foreign minister Maduro has been a faithful ambassador of Chávez’ views, including often radical critiques of global affairs from a hard left-wing stance.

• Sunday, December 9th 2012 - 19:51 UTC

  Chavez to Cuba for further cancer treatment prepares his succession

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was poised to return to Cuba on Sunday for more cancer treatment, having spoken for the first time of giving up power if his condition worsens or he dies.

• Saturday, December 8th 2012 - 03:51 UTC

  Venezuela has until 2016 to adapt to Mercosur tariffs and rules system

  

  Venezuela will adopt the Mercosur common external tariff in four annual stages which are scheduled to conclude in the first half of 2016, according to what was agreed at the summit held Friday in Brasilia and reported by Brazilian diplomatic sources. This was Venezuela’s first summit as a full member of the South American trade and political block.

• Friday, December 7th 2012 - 17:04 UTC

  Chavez back in Venezuela after ten days in Cuba: “where’s the party”

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned from Cuba on Friday following cancer-related medical treatment, walking and joking at the airport in a first public appearance in three weeks that quashed rumours he might have been at death's door.

• Friday, December 7th 2012 - 05:46 UTC

  Brazil confirms Venezuela’s Chavez will be absent from the Mercosur summit

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez will not be attending the Mercosur summit on Friday as had been previously announced, announced on Thursday the Brazilian Foreign ministry which is hosting the event.

• Thursday, December 6th 2012 - 07:45 UTC

  Brazil says President Chavez attendance to Mercosur summit is “uncertain”

  

  The presence of President Hugo Chavez at Friday’s Mercosur summit is “uncertain” reported the official Brazilian news agency on Wednesday adding that the organizers are waiting for a confirmation of his trip to Brasilia.

• Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 16:03 UTC

  January 10, a decisive date for the Venezuelan political situation

  

  As we approach January 10, or even before New Year, the big news will be if a re-elected president but physically handicapped and sick is capable of taking the oath for another six years for which he was re-elected last 7 October, says Nelson Bocaranda, probably the best informed journalist in Venezuela whose reports have sustainedly proven right.

• Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 03:07 UTC

  Brazil says Venezuela leader Chavez will attend the Mercosur summit Friday

  

  Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez will travel to Brazil for the Mercosur summit next Friday despite cancer-related medical treatment in Cuba, Brazil's ambassador revealed on Monday.