( CNN ) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is not in a coma and is continuing to make strides in his recovery , his brother said . Chavez 's brother , Adan Chavez , who is governor of Chavez 's home state of Barinas , recently returned from Cuba , where the president is undergoing cancer treatment . Chavez , 58 , has not made a public appearance since doctors operated on him a month ago . The long absence is not typical of the loquacious leader , who missed his own inauguration this week . `` The head of state continues to assimilate treatment well and , each day , advances in his recovery , '' said Adan Chavez , according to a statement posted Saturday by his office . He characterized as `` totally false '' rumors that Chavez is in a coma and that his family was discussing the possibility of taking him off life support . Last week , a government spokesman said Chavez was battling a severe lung infection that has caused respiratory failure . `` We are sure that with the support of God , science and the people , our president will emerge from this new battle , '' the brother said . His comments came as Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner , an ally of Chavez , visited Cuba in a show of solidarity , and just days after Chavez 's health problems prevented him from being in Caracas for his inauguration ceremony . Throngs of supporters swore an oath of loyalty in his absence Thursday . Vice President Nicolas Maduro called on the masses gathered to take an oath of `` absolute loyalty to the leadership of Comandante Hugo Chavez . '' The crowd repeated his words , holding thousands of tiny copies of the constitution up in the air . Opposition politicians have argued that delaying Chavez 's swearing-in without designating a temporary replacement leaves no legitimate leader in charge of Venezuela . Chavez allies , including a majority of lawmakers in the country 's congress , have said he should remain in power while taking the time he needs to recuperate . Venezuela 's Supreme Court backed the government 's position , ruling that Chavez began a new term on Thursday and can be sworn in later before the court . Before he left for Cuba for surgery , Chavez said he wanted Maduro to assume the presidency if he becomes incapacitated and called on voters to support him at the polls . CNN 's Dana Ford and Catherine E. Shoichet contributed to this report .
Hugo Chavez says his father , President Hugo Chávez , is making strides in his recovery . Chavez , 58 , is undergoing cancer treatment in Cuba and has complications . He has not been seen in public since doctors operated on him a month ago . Argentina 's president visited Cuba in a show of solidarity with Chavez .