The Venezuelan government called on its citizens to ignore the "psychological warfare coming from abroad" on Tuesday in a public declaration stating that the president, Hugo Chávez, remains in a "stationary condition" and is still suffering from a lung infection almost a month after emergency cancer surgery in Cuba.
The announcement is the clearest indication yet that Chávez will not attend the inauguration for his third six-year presidential term on Thursday, which looks likely to be a day marked by a mass rally of supporters and regional leaders, They will fly to Caracas to show solidarity with the figurehead of the Latin American left.
Concerns for Chávez's health have grown since he flew to Havana for an operation to remove malignant cells on 11 December. Since then, he has not been seen or heard. Aides initially said his condition was stable and that he was talking to visitors. Last week, the vice-president, Nicolás Maduro, said his situation was "delicate", and an official bulletin revealed he was suffering from a severe respiratory infection.
Tuesday's statement gave little reassurance the president was recovering, saying: "The president is in a stationary condition with respect to the most recent statement, which informed about the respiratory deficiency he faced caused by a pulmonary infection. Treatment is permanently and rigorously administered and the patient is assimilating it."
Opposition politicians have called for more clarity about the health of the country's leader to determine whether he will be temporarily or permanently absent from office – a constitutional consideration thataffects who will replace him and whether a new presidential election will have to be called.
The lack of detailed information has sparked many rumours. Some foreign media and microblogs have speculated that Chávez is in a coma or on life support. These suggestions have been denounced by the government. The latest statement describes health rumours as "psychological warfare", echoing recent comments by several ruling party officials who have ascribed them to "enemies", "rightwingers" and the opposition.
Thursday's swearing-in ceremony is almost certain to be postponed, although what happens next remains a vexed constitutional issue: the possibilities range from a short delay to a fresh election. The National Assembly has been called for an extraordinary session on Wednesday and this may be an opportunity for the ruling camp to use its majority to press for a decision.
Fears of an indefinite delay have been raised by the opposition and the Catholic church. Opponents of Chávez have called for strikes if this appears likely.
To demonstrate the popular support for Chávez, who has been elected three times with large majorities, the ruling camp has called for people to take to the streets of Caracas on Thursday.
"All of Venezuela will come here in front of the Miraflores presidential palace, the people supporting our president, the people supporting Comandante Chavez – in an overwhelming manner, the people in the street," said Diosdado Cabello, the head of the National Assembly.
Uruguay's president, José Mujica, is also expected to attend, possibly with Argentina's president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and other regional heads of state. Brazil has shown its support by declaring that the constitution of Venezuela allows for a gap of up to 180 days should Chávez not be sworn in.
