( CNN ) -- The plan to embalm the body of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez may have hit a snag . Scientists in a preliminary assessment have determined that the process might be `` quite difficult , '' acting president Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday . Maduro said at the opening of the Book Fair of Venezuela that scientists argued that `` the decision should have been taken much earlier . '' He did n't say why -- but added that Chavez will always remain in Venezuela 's collective memory . `` More than your physical body , we have the commander in eternal memory , especially this generation who heard it , touched it , saw him , '' Maduro told the audience . `` We have to keep alive his image , his voice , his thinking . '' Chavez died this month , at 58 , after a battle with cancer . Maduro had initially said his body would be embalmed . The plan was to have Chavez 's body displayed much like the remains of former revolutionary leaders Vladimir Lenin of Russia and China 's Mao . Venezuelan elections are scheduled for April 14 , about six weeks after Chavez died earlier this month . Maduro filed papers Monday to officially register to run for president . Photos : The displayed bodies of world leaders . During the televised event , Maduro and his supporters from United Socialist Party of Venezuela sang along with a recording of Chavez belting out Venezuela 's national anthem . `` I am not Chavez , but I am his son , '' Maduro said . `` And all together , the people , we are Chavez . '' Despite Maduro being from Chavez 's political party , there will be a strong challenger for Venezuela 's top spot . Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski said he was ready for a fight . Capriles , 40 , ran against Chavez last year and lost . But he mounted one of the fiercest challenges during the late president 's 14 years in power . `` My fight is not to be president . My fight is for Venezuela to move forward , '' Capriles said Sunday night . On Monday , he also filed paperwork to run for the presidency .
Chavez died this month after a battle with cancer . The former president was the first Latin American leader to visit Cuba since Fidel Castro took over in 1959 and his death has been widely mourned by Cuban-Americans. Scientists say embalming Chavez may be difficult .