Cancer-struck Chavez says he’ll rule until 2031

Venezuelan Prez sang and danced on 57th birthday, said he will stick around

Cancer-struck Chavez says he'll rule until 2031

Venezuelan Prez sang and danced on 57th birthday, said he will stick around

He said he expects to lose his hair soon as a result of chemotherapy and that a long process of treatment lies ahead.

Hugo Chavez waves from a balcony of the Miraflores
presidential palace in Caracas on Thursday

"This is going to be various months all of this year, but I'm going to continue in charge of my government functions," Chavez said.

He mixed serious statements about his upcoming treatment with the ecstatic rallying cries of a leader already in pre-campaign mode ahead of the 2012 election.

"Next year, we will win the presidential elections once again! Strength, unity!" Chavez said. Setting a goal he has never before reached, he said, "We're going for 10 million votes next year!"

The crowd chanted, "Oh, no! Chavez won't go!" Chavez sang and danced briefly with one his daughters on the balcony while a band below played folk music.

He saluted to the crowd and blew kisses, standing next to three grandchildren. His supporters sang while atop a giant birthday cake sparkling candles burned.

"I invite you all to celebrate my 77th," Chavez said. "I had said I'd leave in 2021. Well, I'm not going away in 2021 or anything. Maybe in 2031.

"Soon surely my hair will start to fall out inevitable," Chavez said. "They will apply new doses of chemotherapy in the coming days."

The leftist leader has been in office since 1999 and is seeking re-election next year to another six-year term.

A poll released last week said Chavez's public approval rating remains at 50 per cent and hasn't significantly varied since his cancer diagnosis.

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