Chavez ally: Ailing president undergoing physical therapy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: CNN

Chavez ally: Ailing president undergoing physical therapy
From Patrick Oppmann and Marilia Brocchetto, CNN
January 23, 2013 -- Updated 1614 GMT (0014 HKT)

(CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is undergoing physical therapy in Cuba, an ally said Tuesday, a development that would be a significant step for the ailing leader if true.

"I have good news," Bolivian President Evo Morales said during his state of the union speech Tuesday, telling lawmakers that he had spoken to Cuban officials about Chavez on Sunday. "Our brother, president-commander Hugo Chavez, is already doing physical therapy to return to his country."

Later Tuesday, Venezuela's information minister said there was no date planned for Chavez to come back to Caracas, the capital.

"The news of the evolution of President Hugo Chavez's health has been encouraging, but there is no date set for his return," Ernesto Villegas said in televised remarks.


Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/22/world/americas/cuba-chavez--health/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[frazzled]

1. Perhaps he should do a rehab video, then ...

like Senator Mark Kirk did as he was recovering from his stroke.

Sorry, and I like Evo Morales, but this mystery is getting pretty odd. Today's New York Times contained an op-ed piece that stressed the "magical realist" situation in which Venezuela finds itself. Whatever the politics, you do have to find it somewhat bizarre and unsettling:

ON Jan. 10, while Hugo Chávez lay in a hospital bed in Havana, he was symbolically sworn in as Venezuela’s new president in a ceremony here. The crowd that attended his virtual inauguration was moved to tears by a recording of Mr. Chávez’s singing the national anthem. The country is experiencing the very odd circumstance of being both with and without its leader; he is not here, but his voice endures.

From the intensive care unit, the president “continues to perform his duties”; he gives orders and sends kisses to children. This is what his vice president says. According to the Supreme Court, the Congress cannot consider him absent, for no matter how ill he is, only Mr. Chávez himself has the authority to declare himself absent. The opposition is demanding a “fe de vida” — proof that he is still alive, as if he were a kidnapping victim. Day after day, on the street, on Twitter, our president dies and comes back to life. But this is not a magical realist novel.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/opinion/chavez-the-missing-president.html?ref=opinion&_r=0