In a mandatory nationwide radio and television broadcast that was divided into two parts, Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez said on Thursday that on September 26 "the future of the revolution and the progress of the Venezuelan people" are at stake.

Although Venezuela's President said at the official ceremony of graduation of doctors at Cuba's Latin American School of Medicine that he would not conduct the election campaign, Chávez recalled that the goal of the government is to defend the future of the people, "the future of revolution and independence."

Chávez scoffed at unofficial reports posted in social networks and some local media that he was suffering from cancer. "These squalid people want to kill me. Now they are making up stories that I have cancer; that's what they want," Chavez said.

The Venezuelan Head of State wished good health and long life to his political opponents for them "to witness the defeats" they will face in future elections. According to Chávez, Cuban leader Fidel Castro has an "extraordinarily good health". The Venezuelan president visited Fidel and Raúl Castro a few days ago.