Readers know that I have refused to indulge in useless Chavez cancer guessing. But the issues keep raising more and more and Chavez has become that lady that protesteth too much. The latest installment in the saga is so weird that I had to report on it in spite of my better judgment.The thing is that there is that Dr. Navarrete, a surgeon in a private clinic in Caracas with a respectable resumé. The guy was called, which is normal, to form the regular presidential team. That was pre 2002 and he was the lone chavista in the team according to him (was he the implied leader? he does not tell). From these years he retained many items. (Three that marked me).
- Chavez is bipolar and has been treated for it for years. No surprise, any amateur psy could have come to that diagnostic. I think I have been writing since 2004 that Chavez has problems.
- Chavez is an austerity maniac at his personal level and even though his speeches are rambling his room is always very organized and unencumbered with paraphernalia (then again he might have a maid or something for that). Apparently he is also very meticulous with his appearance, always kept, even the nails well manicured.
- He never wanted a colonoscopy. Which makes us understand that already then there was suspicion that he had a problem.
Of course, immediately I wondered why he chose a Mexican magazine for these confessions, why he decided to breach the patient doctor confidentiality just right now, without accounting for it in his interview. I mean, really accounting for it. Something must be afoot because my twitter feeds claim that tomorrow he will be taken into custody. Why not today already since the interview came out this week end? Why has he not left the country since he knows that he will be at the very least interrogated? Reminder: Rafael Caldera put an astrologer into jail becasue he predicted his imminent death which happened a decade later.... Navarrete cannot have forgotten that episode.
If you ask me it is all very weird even though so many pieces fall into place so splendidly. So, what is going on?
We could think positively and consider that Navarrete is right and concerned about the country's future and decided to come out with his tale to force Chavez to fess up.
Or he got paid handsomely, but that would require a lot of money I presume because the guy was a well respected practician.
Or a faction of chavismo wants Chavez to fess up and speed the transition, which is the lone explanation that would make sense for me. They told him to take the plunge, to put up with some unpleasantness but that he would be well compensated later. Now, who may that be?
The Cubans using a Venezuelan forward to allow them to keep a low profile as they have decided to ditch Chavez?
The military that are more an more uneasy about all the problems Chavez is bringing to the country? That military possibility is interesting because Navarrete calmly states coldly that if Chavez dies they will have to take power temporarily. Just like that. "El Presidente puede morir y los militares tendrán que tomar el poder por un tiempo" How comes he knows/advances that?
This is how cynical Venezuela has become. Besides the possible veracity of that account it is certainly a tell tale sign of the times we live here when medical secret is tossed over casually and military take over is simply expected.