Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has pledged to run for re - election this year . A lawmaker read a Spanish newspaper article , saying it made him laugh . Report : Chavez 's " ` ` appears to be deteriorating '' A lawmaker from Chavez 's United Socialist Party of Venezuela mocked the newspaper report 's claims , which come at the start of a politically-important year for the Venezuelan president . The president has said experiences he had in Cuba cured him of cancer .
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has pledged to run for re - election this year . A lawmaker read a Spanish newspaper article , saying it made him laugh . Report : Chavez 's " ` ` appears to be deteriorating '' The president has said experiences he had in Cuba cured him of cancer .