Venezuelan Congress Speaker: 1/10 is not crucial to declare full absence

Venezuelan National Assembly Speaker Diosdado Cabello thinks that January 10 does not determine "at all" a date to declare full absence of the Venezuelan president.

"They (dissenters) looked forward to January 10 in order to declare full absence, for the Congress Speaker to be sworn in and so long (President Hugo) Chávez (...) They can't, because here the Constitution goes together with the people who ratified Commander Chávez on October 7," Cabello exclaimed during the inauguration of Delta Amacuro governor reelected Lizeta Hernández.

"The Constitution is clear: if the president fails to be personally present on January 10 for any unexpected reason, he/she shall be sworn in at the TSJ (Supreme Tribunal of Justice). Where? When? Neither does it specify where," he maintained.

Away from the Constitution

Cabello blasted opposition leaders for allegedly using the Constitution to their own benefit instead observing it. "Here they come now, wanting to embrace the Constitution, only to construe it at leisure."