Chávez is undergoing physiotherapy in Cuba, says Evo Morales.

Reuters Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is undergoing physiotherapy in Cuba so he can return to his country after spending a month and a half recovering from complex cancer surgery, his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales, said on Tuesday.

The statements by the leftist leader allied with Chávez were followed by an announcement from the Venezuelan government of "encouraging news" about the president's health, without further details. However, his officials clarified that there is still no set date for his return to Venezuela.

Chávez has not been seen or heard in public since returning to Cuba on December 10 for his fourth surgery in 18 months for the illness, which forced him this month to indefinitely postpone his swearing-in ceremony for a new term until 2019.

"The day before yesterday (Sunday) and yesterday (Monday) I spoke with Cuba... we have good news, our brother Commander-President Hugo Chávez is already in physiotherapy to return to his country," Morales said during a rally in La Paz.

"We hope to be together soon at international events as always, the leaders of the great homeland like Fidel (Castro), like Hugo Chávez, are greatly missed at international events and I am sure that we will soon be at summits of heads of state," he added without giving further details.

Due to the complex post-operative period Chávez is going through, several rumors about a supposed worsening of his health have been circulating. The most recent one claims that the Military Hospital in Caracas is being prepared to receive him.

"The news that our colleague (Minister of Science and Technology) Jorge Arreaza gave us about the progress in Commander Chávez's health was encouraging," said Venezuelan Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas in a televised message.

"A date for his return has not yet been set," he added.

Given the lack of details about Chávez's condition, Venezuelans are wondering whether he will continue governing to organize an orderly transition or simply to say goodbye.

POLITICAL FUTURE

Before leaving for Havana, Chávez designated Vice President Nicolás Maduro as his political heir and asked his followers to vote for the former bus driver if he was unable to continue in power.

If Chávez dies or resigns, new elections must be called within 30 days. Maduro is expected to be the government's candidate, and Henrique Capriles likely to be the opposition candidate.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elías Jaua said on Monday that he traveled to Cuba and spoke with Chávez, who is already "laughing and joking."

However, the opposition is wondering why the president is talking to family members and ministers, but not sending a message to the country by phone, as he did during previous recoveries.

Although Chávez did not take the oath on January 10 as required by the Constitution, the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela allowed him to fulfill this act at a later date and authorized the indefinite continuation of the president's and his cabinet's work.

Since Chávez revealed he was suffering from cancer in June 2011, the saga of his illness has included four surgeries, two recurrences, and an equal number of triumphant returns announcing that he had overcome cancer, the last of which was two months before his re-election in October.

(Reporting by Carlos Quiroga)