Hugo Chavez Admits to Having Cancer, Will Remain in Charge

The Takeaway

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will remain in charge of the country, despite the news that he has undergone surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Chavez hadn’t been seen in public for weeks, reportedly due to mysterious health issues he developed while traveling, forcing him to undergo emergency surgery in Havana, Cuba. This week, his absence led to the postponement of a summit of Latin American leaders that was scheduled to take place next week, and yesterday he finally gave a public address, in which he admitted he has cancer.   The news that Chavez has cancer is “quite a shock” for  Venezuelans, according to our guest, the BBC’s Sarah Grainger, who joins us from Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, to discuss the news.

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