Cuba Present at Caracas Rally for Chavez

HAVANA TIMES — Cuban Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel traveled to Caracas to participate in rallies today in support for Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, reported DPA news.

Diaz-Canel is leading “the Cuban delegation to participate in a mass rally,” reported the official Granma newspaper. Venezuelan sources confirmed on Wednesday that Diaz-Canel, who has been a vice president of the Cuban Council of Ministers since March 2012, was received by representatives of the Foreign Ministry in Caracas.

Venezuela’s government is holding large demonstrations in support of Chavez, who is apparently quite frail in Cuba after undergoing a fourth cancer operation there and suffering from post-operation complications.

The Venezuelan leader, 58, was originally scheduled to be inaugurated today for his fourth consecutive term for a period of six years.

After announcing on Tuesday that Chavez would not be at the inauguration ceremony, the Caracas government called for a massive turnout in the streets in support of the president. The Venezuelan Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the legality of the president’s absence.

The event will include the presidents of Uruguay, Bolivia, Haiti and Nicaragua, while Argentina and Ecuador sent their foreign ministers. Several other nations in the region sent messages of support for Chavez.

The Venezuelan government has called on its supporters to march on Miraflores Palace, where officials and leaders of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will be awaiting.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro, the head of government during Chavez’s absence, called on the president’s supporters to show their support massively in the streets in this symbolic action.

Note: Havana Times will be on hand at the rally to provide a photo feature for our readers.