Diosdado Cabello likely to retain Congress Speaker's gavel

The National Assembly is allegedly prepared to reelect Diosdado Cabello on Saturday as its president. Consequently, Cabello, a strategic ally of Hugo Chávez, would emerge as the country's leader if President Chávez fails to recover from his latest surgery for cancer, according to an analysis published by Reuters

Under the Venezuelan Constitution, the National Assembly Speaker must take over the presidential office and call elections within 30 days if the president-elect is unable to take power on January 10. This seems the most likely scenario, as the date approaches and Chávez has not recovered, Reuters added.

After his fourth surgery, which he underwent in Cuba on December 11, Chávez suffered complications, including bleeding and an infection causing a respiratory failure.

Cabello is the highest-profile military ally of Hugo Chávez in government. He presided over the National Assembly since early 2011, thus allowing him to strengthen the power and leadership he gained during more than a decade in various government posts, including the vice-president's office and the Miranda state governor's office, among others.

Parliamentary sources told Reuters that the most likely scenario is that Cabello, who stood next to Chávez when he announced the recurrence of cancer last month, would be reelected as Congress Speaker, thus ensuring a smooth transition towards a new presidential vote.