Ahead In Polls, Chavez Speaks On State TV From Cuba
By MISNA
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez broke the silence of several days, aside from some twitter communications that had raised doubts on his actual health, speaking on TV from Cuba where he is still undergoing radiation therapy. Last night Chavez told state television VTV that he will return to Caracas on Thursday, but will have to return to Cuba for another round of cancer treatment.
The Venezuelan leader also addressed the rumours that circulated over the weekend: “We’ll just have to get used to rumors flying, especially in the coming months, it is part of a physiological war… the bourgeois strategy of the Venezuelan right”.
“It’s tough, just ask anyone who has had radiation therapy about the effects it has. But I am pretty far along in the radiation sessions”, added Chavez, responding to rumours circulated by the opposition – in particular his challenger in the October presidential race, Henrique Capriles – who accused him of “governing through twitter”. “I am recovering”, he assured hanging up.
Based on a poll conducted by the Monitor País Institute, Chavez leads by 19 percent points in respect to Capriles – candidate of the Mesa de Unidad Democrática (MUD) – in potential votes in the October 7 vote. The poll, conducted surveying 1,500 people in both rural and urban areas, attributes the exiting President 53% of votes against 34% for the governor of the State of Miranda.
According to the Monitor País, the socialist leader has his major support pool among youths, with 55% between the ages of 18 and 34 ready to vote him.
