Parliament voted on Wednesday January 9, 2013 to push forward the event scheduled for today.

The Venezuelan National Assembly Wednesday , January 9, 2013 approved a request by President Hugo Chávez to postpone his inauguration for a new term in office that was scheduled for today, January 10, 2013. The BBC reported that legislators voted to give President-elect Chávez as much time as he needs to recover.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, announced to legislators that Chávez had requested to be sworn in at a later date before the Supreme Court, according to Article 231 of the Constitution. He said on the recommendation of the President’s his medical team, the process of post-operation recuperation will have to be prolonged beyond today, thus the need for the postponement.

According to Irish Times newspaper, Vice President Nicolas Maduro, Chávez's chosen successor, in a letter read to Parliament, said the authorities would seek another date for the inauguration ceremony. He did not however say when it would take place or give a timeframe for Chavez's return from Havana. Rather than being sworn in by Parliament, Hugo Chávez would take his oath at a later date before the Supreme Court as allowed by the constitution, the letter said.

The government insists that the inauguration is a mere formality for an incumbent leader and can take place at a so far unspecified later date. The opposition argues that Chávez’s current mandate expires on January 10, 2013 and called on the Supreme Court to rule on the issue. The opposition also argues that Vice President Nicolas Maduro's mandate ends today, so he cannot take over as leader. Instead, they suggest the Speaker of the National Assembly should act as Caretaker President. The Supreme Court was expected to meet later yesterday to give a constitutional interpretation of the issue.

Hugo Chávez is in hospital in Cuba after cancer surgery and has suffered complications caused by a lung infection. President Chávez, who has been in power since 1999, was re-elected in October for a fourth term. The 58-year-old former soldier has not been heard from since surgery on December 11, 2012 in Cuba - his fourth operation since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in June 2011.