Venezuela slams US stance on President Hugo Chavez

Caracas has slammed Washington over a “new and offensive meddling” from the United States in the internal affairs of Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government commented Wednesday on statements made a day earlier by US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, who spoke about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s possible “unavailability” and how a “transition” should take place in the country.

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said, “The statements made by this US government spokesperson are perfectly in line with the discourse from Venezuela’s destabilizing and corrupt right wing, which once again shows that bourgeoisie’s subservience to the imperial interests.”

On February 19, Nuland said that new election must be called in Venezuela if the president is unable to serve.

“The speculations by the aforementioned spokesperson on the situation of President Hugo Chavez and on Venezuelan institutions have caused great indignation among the Venezuelan people, who today accompany the president with enthusiasm and affection,” the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said in response to Nuland’s remarks.

Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro said on February 18 that the 58-year-old president arrived in the capital, Caracas, and was taken to the Dr. Carlos Arvelo Military Hospital to continue his cancer treatment.

Chavez was reelected to a new six-year term on October 7, 2012.