Venezuela’s president plans to run 2012 elections

“I think there is no doubt the president will be present at the 2012 elections and then for many more years," Finance Minister Jorge Giordani said in an interview with state TV.

Chavez has resisted opposition demands to hand over the presidency temporarily during his absence abroad. Instead, the socialist leader has delegated some powers, including budgetary matters, to Giordani and Vice President Elias Jaua.

The political situation had been rocked by Chavez's announcement that he had an operation in Havana last month to remove a tumour.

Before flying back to Cuba on Saturday for chemotherapy, Chavez said the doctors had found no malignant cells in his body after the surgery. But his illness has raised doubts about his fitness to govern the country of 29 million people.