Diosdado Cabello, an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, has been reelected as parliament speaker.

Cabello could become a caretaker leader of Venezuela if Chavez is unable to discharge his duties. Commenting on the dispute over what would happen if Chavez is unable to attend the presidential inauguration, which is scheduled to be held on January 10, Cabello said, “The president will continue being president beyond January 10”. The Venezuelan president underwent a fourth round of cancer surgery in Havana on December 11, 2012. According to the Venezuelan Constitution, if the president is declared incapacitated, a new election must be called and held within 30 days.