Venezuela's opposition: constitution and democracy 'at stake' Venezuela signaled Friday that cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez will be unable to be sworn in to a new term next week. The opposition insists that if Chavez is prevented by ill health from taking the oath of office on January 10 he must at least temporarily give up the presidency to the speaker of the National Assembly. Images and soundbites from interview with Ramón José Medina, Foreign Affairs Coordinator of the Opposition Coalition MUD.