Shouldn't be long now.Chavez is suffering from "a new, severe infection." The state news agency identified it as respiratory.
Villegas said Chavez was "standing by Christ and life conscious of the difficulties he faces."
True, except for the Christ part, and the conscious part, and maybe the life part.
He's awfully religious for a dying socialist...
He called on Chavez's supporters, who include thousands of well-armed militiamen, to be "on a war footing."
Sounds like there's concern it won't be a peaceful transition.
Upon Chavez's death, the opposition would contest the government's candidate in a snap election that it argues should have been called after Chavez was unable to be sworn in on Jan. 10 as the constitution stipulates.
Indeed, the campaigning has already begun, although undeclared, with Vice President Nicolas Maduro, who Chavez has said should succeed him, frequently commandeering all broadcast channels Chavez-style to tout the "revolution" and vilify the opposition.