Venezuelans rally in support of President Chavez.

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans participated in a rally on January 10th in the capital Caracas, organized by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), to support President Hugo Chavez on the day he began his new term. However, due to not having fully recovered from surgery, some were unable to attend the inauguration ceremony.

From early morning, large crowds of Venezuelans, dressed in red and carrying flags, banners, and posters, took to the streets to attend a rally in front of the Miraflores Palace (Presidential Palace) to support President Chavez and defend the Constitution that allows him to postpone his re-election until he recovers from cancer surgery.

Vice President Maduro at the rally. (Source: AVN)

Those participating in the rally affirmed that they took to the streets to protect and reaffirm the will of the people when they voted to re-elect President Chavez on October 7th last year, and to deliver a message: Whatever happens to the President, the opposition should not think about stopping the Bolivarian revolution led by Chavez.

In contrast to the somber atmosphere of the preceding days, when many government officials and a large number of people attended prayer services for the health of this left-wing leader, January 10th became a true celebration, much like when President Chavez was declared re-elected by the National Electoral Council on October 7th last year.

The rally was also attended by presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and government representatives from 27 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. All international speakers expressed support for the Bolivarian revolution and praised President Chavez's contributions to the cause of Latin American and Caribbean integration.

Speaking at the rally, Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro highlighted the strength of the Bolivarian revolution initiated and continuously strengthened by President Chavez, and affirmed that with unity, the Venezuelan people would overcome challenges to continue the revolution forward. He also accused the opposition of exploiting President Chavez's health issues to destabilize the country.

President Chavez had not recovered from his fourth surgery in Cuba on December 11th since being diagnosed with cancer in 2011, and therefore could not take office on January 10th.

Amid accusations from the opposition that the postponement of his inauguration violated the Constitution, the Constitutional Court of Supreme Justice of Venezuela ruled on January 9th that Chavez is entitled to be sworn in again after his health recovers, and his government will continue to govern the country.

Following the Constitutional Court's final interpretation of the inauguration procedure for the president-elect, Venezuela's Vice President of the United Socialist Party and President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, called on the people to take to the streets to support President Chavez and defend the Constitution.

According to (Vietnam+) - DT