Chavez’s Cuba cancer visit criticised

Venezuela’s opposition candidate has sharply criticised socialist president Hugo Chavez for having cancer treatment in Cuba rather than trusting doctors at home, saying it sends a terrible message to ordinary Venezuelans.

Henrique Capriles has avoided joining speculation over the president’s condition, preferring simply to wish him a speedy recovery in time for the 7 October election that is shaping up to be Mr Chavez’s closest fight of his 13-year rule.

Yet in some of his strongest comments to date, the Democratic Unity candidate yesterday said Mr Chavez’s decision to have surgery in Cuba – twice in mid-2011 and again last month – and to govern from Havana during his convalescence was wrong.

“He says he has to be operated on abroad because the conditions don’t exist for him to be treated in his own country. What does that mean for common citizens if they have cancer?” Capriles said. “It’s an extremely negative message.”

Mr Chavez has chosen to be treated in Havana due to his close friendship with former president Fidel Castro.

“If I was in his position, I would stay in Venezuela. I would not govern from another country,” Mr Capriles said.

State governor Mr Capriles, 39, says he wants to replace socialism with a “modern left” government in the Brazilian mould.