VENEZUELA-POLITICS-CHAVEZ-HEALTH

A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gathers with others outside Miraflores presidential palace during an event in homage of Chavez, in Caracas on January 10, 2013. With Chavez ailing and absent, Venezuela's leftist government launches a new presidential term with a display of popular support on the day he was to be inaugurated. The Supreme Court cleared the cancer-stricken president,kwho is recovering from a fourth round of cancer surgery in Havana, to indefinitely postpone his re-inauguration and said his existing administration could remain in office until he is well enough to take the oath. The government has said that he is recovering from complications from surgery, most recently a severe pulmonary infection that had resulted in a 'respiratory insufficiency.' AFP PHOTO/Raul ARBOLEDA (Photo credit should read RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez chants slogans during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Hundreds of cheerful supporters rallied outside his presidential palace Thursday in an alternative inauguration for a leader too ill to return home for the real thing. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds up a banner bearing the image of the South American leader at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside his presidential palace in an alternative inauguration, showing their support for the ailing leader and wearing T-shirts with the slogan "I am Chavez." The government organized the rally for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. A swearing-in ceremony has been indefinitely postponed, despite opposition complaints. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez poses for a picture while holding up a local newspaper featuring Chavez on the cover, at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside his presidential palace in an alternative inauguration, showing their support for the ailing leader and wearing T-shirts with the slogan "I am Chavez." The government organized the rally for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. A swearing-in ceremony has been indefinitely postponed, despite opposition complaints. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez chant slogans at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Supporters of Chavez rallied outside his presidential palace in an exuberant symbolic inauguration for a leader too ill to return home for the real thing. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A picture of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is held up alongside an image of Jesus Christ at a rally by Chavez supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. The Supreme Court on Wednesday backed the plan to put off the inauguration indefinitely, saying the president could be sworn in before the court at a later date. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears earrings she decorated with an image of Chavez as she attends a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. Chavez has been fighting an unspecified type of pelvic cancer since June 2011 and has undergone repeated surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The government said in its last update on Monday that Chavez was in a "stable situation" while being treated for a severe respiratory infection. The government has hasn't said how severe his "respiratory deficiency" is. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Supporters of Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez chants slogans as they hold up pictures of him during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. The government invited leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean to add political weight to the inauguration without an inauguree, while the country's opposition demanded details about Chavez's state and called the delay of the formal swearing-in a violation of the constitution. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wears earrings she decorated with an image of Chavez as she attends a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. Chavez has been fighting an unspecified type of pelvic cancer since June 2011 and has undergone repeated surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The government said in its last update on Monday that Chavez was in a "stable situation" while being treated for a severe respiratory infection. The government has hasn't said how severe his "respiratory deficiency" is. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez chant slogans as they gather for a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. Vice President Nicolas Maduro said that even though it wasn't an official swearing-in, Thursday's event still marks the start of a new term for the president following his re-election in October. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A man holds a picture of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and a Venezuelan flag during a Mass to pray for the leader on what was supposed to be his inauguration day, at a church in La Paz, Bolivia, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Chavez has been fighting an unspecified type of pelvic cancer since June 2011 and has undergone repeated surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Venezuela's government said in its last update on Monday that Chavez was in a "stable situation" while being treated for a severe respiratory infection. The government has hasn't said how severe his "respiratory deficiency" is. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A man holds a picture of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and a Venezuelan flag during a Mass to pray for the leader on what was supposed to be his inauguration day, at a church in La Paz, Bolivia, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Chavez has been fighting an unspecified type of pelvic cancer since June 2011 and has undergone repeated surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Venezuela's government said in its last update on Monday that Chavez was in a "stable situation" while being treated for a severe respiratory infection. The government has hasn't said how severe his "respiratory deficiency" is. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A female member of Venezuela's Bolivarian militia, in uniform with her face painted, holds a flower during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rallied outside his presidential palace Thursday in an exuberant symbolic inauguration for a leader too ill to return home for the real thing. With Chavez out of sight in a Cuban hospital fighting a severe respiratory infection more than a month after cancer surgery, his swearing-in ceremony has been indefinitely postponed, despite opposition complaints. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds up a sign that reads in Spanish read "I am Chavez" during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Daniel Ortega, Nicolas Maduro

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, left, listens to Venezuela's Vice President Nicolas Maduro during a symbolic inauguration for President Hugo Chavez outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Venezuela gathered foreign allies and tens of thousands of exuberant supporters Thursday to celebrate a new term for a leader too ill to return home for a real swearing in. The Venezuelan leader, normally at the center of national attention, is so ill following a fourth cancer surgery in Cuba that he has made no broadcast statement in more than a month nor appeared in a single photo. Officials have not specified what sort of cancer he suffers or which hospital is treating him. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Supporters of Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez gather for a symbolic inauguration for Chavez outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. Vice President Nicolas Maduro said that even though it wasn't an official swearing-in, Thursday's event still marks the start of a new term for the president following his re-election in October. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds up a picture of him during a symbolic inauguration rally for Chavez outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. Vice President Nicolas Maduro said that even though it wasn't an official swearing-in, Thursday's event still marks the start of a new term for the president following his re-election in October. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wave images of him, second from right, and the Venezuela's independence hero Simon Bolivar during a symbolic inauguration for Chavez outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. Vice President Nicolas Maduro said that even though it wasn't an official swearing-in, Thursday's event still marks the start of a new term for the president following his re-election in October. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds up a painting of him during a symbolic inauguration rally for Chavez outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. Vice President Nicolas Maduro said that even though it wasn't an official swearing-in, Thursday's event still marks the start of a new term for the president following his re-election in October. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

A life-size cut out image of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is carried by a Chavez supporter during a symbolic inauguration ceremony for Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be Chavez's inauguration day. The Venezuelan leader, normally at the center of national attention, is so ill following a fourth cancer surgery in Cuba that he has made no broadcast statement in more than a month, and has not appeared in a single photo. Officials have not specified what sort of cancer he suffers or which hospital is treating him. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Cristina Fernandez, Hugo Chavez

FILE - In this March 29, 2011 file photo, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, and Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez gesture before signing commercial accords during a visit to a state-run shipyard in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fernandez is in Cuba on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, to visit Chavez who is recovering from cancer surgery. The Venezuelan leader, normally at the center of national attention, is so ill following a fourth cancer surgery in Cuba that he has made no broadcast statement in more than a month, and has not appeared in a single photo. Officials have not specified what sort of cancer he suffers. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)