President Chavez's inauguration is ready.

Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice announced it is ready to proceed with the inauguration ceremony for President Hugo Chavez for the 2013-2019 term, following his return to the country yesterday, February 18th.

According to AFP (France), citing sources from the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela (TSJ), preparations for the ceremony are complete; the only thing awaiting a decision from President Chavez and his medical team on the appropriate time and whether the inauguration will be held privately or publicly.

After being re-elected in the October 7, 2012 election, President Chavez unexpectedly underwent surgery for recurring cancer in mid-December 2012 in Cuba and did not recover in time to return to Venezuela for his inauguration ceremony on January 10, 2013, as stipulated by the Venezuelan Constitution.

Venezuelans rejoiced upon Hugo Chavez's return on February 18th - Photo: AP

The Supreme Court of Justice subsequently ruled in favor of President Chavez, allowing him to postpone his inauguration until he had recovered and was healthy enough to take the oath of office.

Yesterday, February 18th, Mr. Chavez unexpectedly returned home – a sign that his health is improving, at least enough to allow him to sit on the plane for a few hours.

However, there has been no new information about his health or images of him returning so far; Chavez's aides say the 58-year-old leader's condition remains "complex."

"We have returned to our motherland Venezuela. Thank God! Thank you, my beloved people! I will continue my treatment here," Reuters quoted Chavez as saying on Twitter after the flight.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro confirmed that Chavez returned to the country at 2:30 a.m. from Havana and was taken to a military hospital in Caracas.

Chavez's messages on Twitter were his first contact with the outside world since his surgery in Cuba in December 2012. News of his return was met with jubilation by his supporters in the South American country of 29 million people, where his extensive welfare policies had earned him popular support, especially among the poor.

“That’s fantastic news, the best thing that could happen,” Chavez’s cousin, Guillermo Frias, told Reuters from his home state of Barinas. “Venezuela was waiting for him, everyone wanted to see him. Thank God he’s back!”

In Caracas, fireworks were set off to welcome his return, and Venezuela's information minister sang "He's back, he's back!" live on television.

The recent surgery was Chavez's fourth operation in just 18 months since being diagnosed with cancer in mid-2011. He also underwent weeks of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and the government says his condition remains complex. "It's still complex, it's still difficult, but Chavez is fighting to overcome it," Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said last weekend.

A crowd of supporters gathered outside the hospital where Chavez was taken, chanting slogans in support of him and dancing. Parliament Speaker Diosdado Cabello said the president was completely comfortable in his new hospital.

According to Tuoi Tre - DT