CARACAS, Venezuela — Top government officials are threatening to take action against opposition governors and issuing dark warnings about conspiracies against the government of President Hugo Chavez, who is ailing and remains incommunicado in Cuba.
At a large rally for the cancer-stricken Chavez on Thursday, the day designated for his inauguration, Vice President Nicolas Maduro sent a warning to government critics who had objected to a Supreme Court ruling that endorsed the indefinite postponement of the president’s swearing-in.
Many interpreted his words to be directed at Henrique Capriles, the governor of Miranda state, who lost to Chavez in the presidential election in October. He is the most likely opposition candidate if a special election has to be held should Chavez die, resign or become too sick to continue in office.
“Some governors out there have come out to make declarations, playing with words,” Maduro said. “We say to them, ‘Stop the waffling.’ If you don’t recognize the legitimate government of President Chavez, we are evaluating legally very forceful actions, because if you don’t recognize me, I’m not obligated to recognize you. It’s that simple.”
He added: “Watch your words and your actions. Take care not to get involved in coups and destabilizing adventures.”
Before leaving for cancer surgery in Havana in early December, Chavez designated Maduro as his political heir and said that he wanted him to run for president if a special election became necessary.
It is not unusual for Venezuelan officials to threaten or lash out at the opposition, which they routinely characterize as an enemy bent on overthrowing Chavez’s revolution. But in recent days, amid an intense debate over the constitutionality of postponing the president’s swearing-in, the tone has gotten harsher.
Later on Thursday, Capriles posted a reply on Twitter, saying, “Threats from No.2s make us laugh, let’s see if starting tomorrow they get back to work, Government in paralysis.”
Capriles added in another post: “What do you know, they didn’t let Al Capone speak, what happened?”
Vladimir Villegas, a former ambassador who is now critical of the government, said that in Chavez’s absence, Maduro and other officials were using the clash with the opposition to promote unity among their followers.
“They can’t live without an enemy,” Villegas said. “The confrontation with the opposition holds them together.”
The vice president is appointed by the president, and some in the opposition have argued that Maduro cannot continue to serve in the new term without being reappointed by Chavez. But the Supreme Court ruled that Maduro and other appointees could continue in their posts.
Capriles has pointed out repeatedly that although Maduro is now at the head of the government, he is not an elected official.
“He was not elected Oct. 7,” Capriles said last week, referring to the recent presidential election. “He shouldn’t come and talk to us about legitimacy.”
Also last week, the government said it was starting an administrative proceeding against Globovision, a television station closely allied with the opposition, over its coverage of the constitutional controversy around Chavez’s swearing-in. The proceeding could result in a large fine or the temporary shutdown of the station.
The National Telecommunications Commission announced the proceeding on Wednesday, several hours after Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Assembly and a top Chavez ally, said in a speech that the station should be sanctioned for its coverage of the issue.
The director of the commission, Pedro Maldonado, said punishment could include a fine of up to 10 percent of the station’s gross revenue and a 72-hour shutdown.
Globovision paid a fine of about $2.2 million last year for its coverage of a deadly prison riot in 2010. The government said its reporting threatened public order and fomented anxiety.
On Friday, Globovision ran a short spot several times showing a section of the Constitution that defends free speech followed by Maldonado announcing the proceeding against the station. It ends with the words “Censorship of the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, Maduro flew to Cuba on Friday to visit the president and his family and speak with his doctors.
Chavez has not been seen or heard from since his cancer surgery Dec. 11 in Havana. Officials have said that he is fighting a severe lung infection.
In past trips to Cuba for cancer treatment, starting in June 2011, Chavez stayed in the public eye, posting on Twitter, making phone calls to government-run television stations and on one occasion conducting a televised government meeting from Havana.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 01/13/2013