海角大神

Hugo Ch谩vez tries to silence health rumors with his usual flair

Hugo Ch谩vez assembled reporters to his palace and played ball, after a Miami-based newspaper suggested the spirited Venezuelan President was on his last legs.

As rumors circulated all over the Internet that Venezuelan President Hugo Ch谩vez had been rushed to the hospital with kidney failure, the great PR man had the world鈥檚 press in the palm of his baseball glove at his Miraflores presidential palace.

While his other hand theatrically threw a baseball up and down, President Ch谩vez read out every word of an El Nuevo Herald article that the previous night had suggested he was on his last legs.

鈥淲e must stop the speculation,鈥� Ch谩vez said, clad in a red tracksuit as he then tossed the ball back and forth with aides. "It is morbid and inhumane.鈥�

The indefatigable leader then spoke for more than two hours on the country鈥檚 border dispute with Guyana, the release of US hostages in Iran 鈥� thanks of course to his sway, he reminded 鈥� as well as on the bad reporting that had fed the piece that brought the press there in the first place.

It was a highly orchestrated show that will likely play out in coming months, as Ch谩vez's health remains in question and Venezuela contemplates a future without him. Love him or hate him, Ch谩vez has been the face of the country for 12 years and he is seeking to keep it that way as the country heads into presidential elections in October.

This year, the opposition actually stands a chance. His toughest rival so far is charismatic state-governor Henrique Capriles Radonski who is winning support against chavismo as Venezuelans become disaffected with some of the world鈥檚 highest crime figures, an economy on its knees 鈥� saved only from collapse by high oil prices 鈥� and day-to-day problems such as electricity shortages.

The El Nuevo Herald article, published Wednesday, was not the first of its kind. The Miami-based paper had made similar claims about the health of both Ch谩vez and former Cuban President Fidel Castro.

A defiant Ch谩vez sought to take control. 鈥淭hose who don't love me and wish me ill, well bad luck!鈥� he said in an early morning phone call to state television. Journalists in Caracas then received an email summoning them to Miraflores immediately.

Ch谩vez was jovial when he spoke on his own terms but appeared agitated when reporters asked for more details on his health.

鈥淲hat is it you want?鈥� Ch谩vez shouted at the assembled press, pausing for effect before asking the journalists if they would be asking the same questions of their family or friends.

Whether he likes it or not, Ch谩vez鈥檚 health 鈥� like that of his mentor in Cuba 鈥� will continue to be the subject of speculation as elections loom. This is only exacerbated by his unwillingness to reveal more details and his erratic public appearances.