Hugo Ch谩vez's triumphant return to Venezuela
| Caracas, Venezuela
For five minutes yesterday, Venezuelan President Hugo Ch谩vez stood on the balcony of his presidential palace in silence, lapping up the cheers of thousands of supporters ecstatic to see their hero back in town after a long 鈥� and uncharacteristically silent 鈥� period of convalescence in Cuba.
Mr. Ch谩vez's surprise return 鈥� just days after announcing that he had been undergoing treatment for cancer while in Cuba 鈥� comes just in time for the country鈥檚 bicentennial celebrations today.
Street parties are planned across the nation and a military parade will wind through the capital, Caracas, to mark 200 years since Venezuela won its independence from Spain.
The festivities have been planned for years and Chavez wouldn't have missed it, say analysts.
鈥淭he bicentennial is an irresistible political moment for [Ch谩vez],鈥� says Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington. 鈥淗e naturally wants to make the most of it, and he can only do that in front of adoring throngs in Venezuela.鈥�
And adoring they were.
鈥淲e give our hearts to our Comandante Ch谩vez,鈥� says Maury Carrasquel, wearing a red beret as he watched Ch谩vez speak from the palace balcony.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a miracle I am here considering how I was,鈥� said Ch谩vez.
Indeed, many considered his return doubtful after his announcement last week that he had undergone surgery for cancer. But Venezuelans woke up Monday morning to see pictures of Ch谩vez arriving at Caracas鈥檚 airport in the early hours, hugging ministers and even breaking out in a traditional folk song.
The news, alongside the president鈥檚 ebullient mood, sparked impromptu street parties all over Caracas culminating with Ch谩vez鈥檚 address to the thousands of fans gathered at the presidential palace.
鈥淲e are here because we love Ch谩vez,鈥� said Andre Tevari, a businessman, one of thousands of supporters dressed in red leaning on railings at the palace. 鈥淗e has done so much for us. He is the one. It is the opposition that is the cancer of this country.鈥�
Opposition leaders, for their part, wondered if the Ch谩vez's somber announcement last week and proud return yesterday were politically calculated.
Henrique Capriles Radonski, widely tipped to win primaries in February and take on Ch谩vez in next year鈥檚 election, predicted last week that the whole situation was a political ploy in order to allow Ch谩vez a 鈥�triumphant return.鈥�
While Ch谩vez suggested from the Miraflores balcony that doctors鈥� orders may hamper his ability to take part in celebrations, there is little doubt now that the master of public relations will at least appear for a photo, bathing in the sea of red that faithfully and unhesitatingly buoys his popularity.
Esle茅 Polido, a member of Ch谩vez鈥檚 Bolivarian militia, said yesterday, outside the Comandante鈥檚 presidential palace, 鈥淚 am here for the president, for the revolution and for my country. I will be here until I die.鈥�
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