CARACAS, January 24 (Itar-Tass) – Deputy Speaker of Venezuela’s National Assembly Aristobulo Isturiz said Monday an article in the Spanish daily ABS on the status of health of President Hugo Chavez had made him laugh.
The article contributed by ABS’s correspondent in Washington alleged Chavez’s oncologic disease would not allow him to stay alive for more than twelve or so months.
Isturiz recalled Chavez’s recent speech in parliament that took almost ten hours and he said the President could have continued had he wanted it.
Some people would like to be sure that Chavez will not survive even a month, to say nothing of nine months, Isturiz said, adding along with it he is confident Chavez’s health status is much more encouraging than what ABS has described.
The newspaper claimed with reference to intelligence sources allegedly in contact with the physicians supervising Chavez that contrary to the latter man’s assurances he has won a victory in the struggle with cancer, his actual condition gives him a lease of life for nine to twelve months only if he continues rejecting intensive medical treatment, which in turn will compel him to step down from the post of the head of state.
ABS claimed the tests he took December 30 made his doctors conclude his health was deteriorating and his growing public activity could actually be explained by a supposedly higher dose of stimulating medications he received over the past month.