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A woman walks past a mural depicting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas January 9, 2013. Chavez's formal swearing-in for a new six-year term scheduled for January 10 can be postponed if he is unable to attend due to his battle to recover from can
Venezuela court endorses Chavez inauguration delay
Venezuela court endorses Chavez inauguration delay
Posted : Wednesday, 09 January 2013 12:16PM

CARACAS (Reuters) - The head of Venezuela's Supreme Court said on Wednesday the postponement of Hugo Chavez's planned December 10 inauguration for a new presidential term was constitutionally legitimate.

Luisa Morales, the court's president, gave the judgment at a news conference, saying no new swearing-in was necessary and Chavez remained Venezuela's president, with Nicolas Maduro also continuing in his role as vice-president.

Chavez's recovery after cancer surgery in Cuba means he will not be able to attend the scheduled January 10 ceremony. Chavez, 58, has not been seen nor heard from him almost a month.

(Reporting by Eyanir Chinea, Writing by Daniel Wallis, Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Jackie Frank)

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