FM :Brazil sees no problem in Venezuela's succession

The Brazilian government does not foresee any problems with Venezuela's upcoming succession which is complicated by President Hugo Chavez's poor health, Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said on Friday. Chavez, who was reelected for a third presidential term in October, is undergoing cancer treatment in Cuba and his failing health may hold him back from taking office as scheduled on Jan. 10th. The situation is unusual, calling for transparency and involvement of the Venezuelan people in the decision-making process, Patriota told reporters. "There are some constitutional matters which are up to Venezuelans to solve in a consensual manner," he said. Chavez's allies intend to delay the inauguration while the opposition wants it to go as planned. Under Venezuelan law, if a president-elect is unable to take office on the inauguration day, the president of the House of Representatives takes over and new elections must be held within a month. Chavez has been battling cancer over the past two years. Venezuelan government officials said he is recovering and is stable and conscious after his fourth cancer-related operation in Cuba last week.