Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is fighting for re-election in October even as he recovers from cancer treatment.<br />For months there have been rumours about the seriousness of his condition, and the opposition is seeking to make the most of them.<br />His supporters argue that a frank debate has to begin on how to preserve the social advances of the last 12 years for when Chavez does finally step down, and alternatives to replace him.<br />Al Jazeera's Shihab Rattansi reports from Merida.
