CARACAS: Venezuela heads into uncharted political waters on Wednesday without ailing President Hugo Chavez amid calls for the Supreme Court to decide if his government’s postponing his inauguration is constitutional.

After days of suspense, the government confirmed that Chavez, recovering in Cuba from cancer surgery, was still too sick to return for his re-inauguration on Thursday and would take the oath of office at a later date before the Supreme Court.

Leaders of the leftist government insist that, under the circumstances, the president’s current term can be extended beyond the January 10 inauguration date until he is well enough to be sworn in to another six-year term.

“If anyone has doubts, then go to the Supreme Court, go ahead to the Supreme Court, explain what your doubts are,” Diosdado Cabello, the National Assembly speaker, said in a stormy debate after the delay was announced.

The Supreme Court, which is controlled by pro-Chavez magistrates, called a news conference for Wednesday amid opposition demands for it to rule on the constitutionality of the government’s decision.

“I do not know what the judges of the Supreme Court are waiting for. Right now in Venezuela, without any doubt whatsoever, a constitutional conflict has arisen,” opposition leader and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said.

Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said late Monday that Chavez’s medical condition was unchanged since the latest complication from surgery was reported four days ago.

Chavez is suffering from a severe pulmonary infection that has resulted in a “respiratory insufficiency,” officials have said.

The announcement confirming that Chavez, 58, is too sick to be sworn in on the January 10 inauguration day came in a letter to the National Assembly from Vice President Nicolas Maduro. The letter went on to say that, in keeping with article 231 of the constitution, Chavez would take the oath before the Supreme Court at a later day. But the charter also says new elections must be held within 30 days if the president-elect or president dies or is permanently incapacitated either before he takes office or in the first four years of his six-year term.