Hugo Chavez swearing-in delay legal, Venezuela's SC Rules -

 

Venezuela's Supreme Court has ruled that the postponement of President Hugo Chavez's inauguration for a new term in office is legal.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles accepted the ruling as binding, but said it did not end the uncertainty facing Venezuela. 

SC President Luisa Estella Morales said it would be "absurd" to consider Hugo Chavez's treatment in Cuba as an unauthorised absence.
She said that the oath of office could be taken at a later date, as the constitution states, and Mr Chavez's re-election had guaranteed "continuity" in government.
In a televised statement, SC President Luisa Estella Morales read out the unanimous decision of the panel of seven magistrates who handle constitutional issues before the court.

She said there was a clear distinction between the act of taking the oath and the beginning of a new mandate.

The Supreme Court considered the swearing-in an important formality, but not indispensable for the start of the new presidential term, she said.

She said that the swearing-in ceremony would no doubt happen.
"But at this moment, we can't say when, how, or where he [the president] will be sworn in", SC President Luisa Estella Morales said.

Note
Hugo Chavez is in hospital in Cuba after undergoing cancer surgery.
Earlier, on Tuesday Jan 8,2013 the National Assembly voted to give President Hugo Chavez as much time as he needed to recover.