Mr. Chavez has recovered from a respiratory infection.

Minister Villegas said that doctors had successfully treated the President's severe respiratory infection.

On January 26, the Venezuelan government announced that President Hugo Chavez's health was progressing "generally favorably," and that the complications he experienced after surgery on December 11 in Cuba had been treated.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (Photo: AFP)

In an official statement regarding President Chavez's health, released in Santiago, Chile, where the first summit between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU) was taking place, Venezuelan Minister of Information and Communications Ernesto Villegas stated that doctors had successfully treated a severe respiratory infection, but President Chavez was still experiencing some degree of respiratory distress.

According to Minister Villegas, the doctors have finished managing the post-operative complications and have begun treating the cancer.

The statement also criticized several domestic and international media outlets serving the interests of hostile right-wing forces, particularly the Spanish daily newspapers El País and ABC, for distorting President Chávez's health in order to undermine the Bolivarian revolution he led.

The statement also said that, despite undergoing medical treatment, President Chavez, whenever possible, monitored the situation and met with other key government leaders to make decisions on domestic and foreign policy.

Speaking on television early on January 26th after returning from a visit to President Chavez, Vice President Nicolás Maduro said that the left-wing leader had reviewed and made decisions regarding the 2013 budget to ensure funding for social programs, and had also approved the method for selecting the ruling party's candidates in the district elections in May.

According to VNA - DT