This week: It’s been a year since Venezuelans first learned that Hugo Chávez was ill; his increasingly-long absences, along with his naming of a six member Council of State, have fueled rumors that he will pick a successor to run in the October elections; the increasing uncertainty over his health is also leading to warnings about potential civil unrest and even violence; investors are bullish on the state oil company PDVSA’s bonds in hopes that the Chávez era appears to be coming to close, but analysts warn that Venezuela’s economy is in need of serious help—no matter who wins the October election. Meanwhile, PDVSA continues to struggle with oil spills, Chávez’s new prescription-drug plan is denounced as a populist ploy, new reports place Venezuela almost last in the world in economic freedom, and Venezuela finds itself on the U.S. Commerce Department’s watch list for intellectual property infringements.

For Venezuela’s president, a year of health struggles, CNN

It started with an unscheduled phone call to an evening TV show. The voice of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez crackled over the state television speakers.

Chavez reelection bid in doubt, AFP

President Hugo Chavez’s repeated trips to Cuba for cancer treatment and the government’s silence about his health are fueling rumors that he will name a successor to run in October presidential elections.

Warnings of civil unrest in Venezuela, The Financial Times

Politicians across the spectrum in Venezuela are trading dire predictions of impending violence in the vacuum left by uncertainty about the health of President Hugo Chávez.

A modest concession to reality, The Economist

Ever since Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s president, admitted nearly a year ago that he was suffering from cancer, his spokespeople have insisted that no substitute would be required.

Chavez Cancer Fight Ignites PDVSA Bond Rally, Businessweek

Debt traders are pushing up the bonds of state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA as they envision a nation without President Hugo Chavez that may free the oil producer from a tax rate as high as 95 percent.

A post-Chavez Venezuela is no investment bonanza, Reuters

The health of Hugo Chavez has piqued the market’s interest. Long stretches of silence from the cancer-stricken Venezuelan president have brought a certain morbid optimism to investors, who have sent the country’s debt to highs not seen in years.

Venezuela’s PdVSA Reports Oil Leak In Anzoategui State, The Wall Street Journal

Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA said Wednesday it has activated a contingency plan to tackle an oil leak at a crude production facility in the eastern state of Anzoategui.

Venezuela: subsidised drugs for all, The Financial Times

While many will praise the noble intentions behind the Venezuelan government’s inauguration of a nationwide network of subsidised pharmacies on Monday, just as many will reject it as a populist stunt ahead of October’s presidential elections.

Venezuela ranks 174 in the Index of Economic Freedom, El Universal

Economic restrictions in Venezuela keep on causing poor results in trade freedom, rule of law, competitiveness and entrepreneurship. This is mirrored in the country score under the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom.

Venezuela among countries with high “piracy” levels, El Universal

Venezuela is among the 12 countries included in the priority watch list of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) violations, according to a report of the United States Department of Commerce.