This week: President Chávez continues to receive cancer treatment in Cuba, as his illness forces him to skip the Summit of the Americas; A former Venezuelan judge alleges that high-ranking officials in the government are complicit in the country’s illegal drug trade; State-run oil company PDVSA posts surging profits, but also reports a 69 percent increase in oil spills. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund expresses concern about the damage rampant inflation is doing to Venezuela’s economy; Polling data shows that Venezuelans are opposed to Chávez’s policies on housing, roads and education; and Chávez applauds Argentina’s expropriation of Spanish oil assets.

Venezuela’s Chavez skips summit citing medical reasons, heads to Cuba for cancer treatment, Associated Press via The Washington Post

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez skipped the Summit of the Americas for medical reasons Saturday and headed to Cuba to continue with cancer treatment that is increasingly forcing him out of the international spotlight.

Venezuela ex-judge says officials tried to manipulate judiciary, government dismisses claims, AP via The Washington Post

A fired judge’s allegations that high-ranking officials in President Hugo Chavez’s government and military manipulate Venezuelan court cases were dismissed on Thursday by the country’s foreign minister, who said the ex-judge isn’t credible because he was removed for alleged ties to a prominent drug suspect.

TNK-BP Said to Seek $200 Million From PDVSA at Venezuela Venture, Business Week

TNK-BP, BP Plc (BP/)’s Russian venture with a group of billionaires, estimates it’s owed more than $200 million by Petroleos de Venezuela SA for crude sales from their heavy oil venture, said two people with knowledge of the matter.

PDVSA Profit Surges 42% in 2011 on Record Export Oil Price, Business Week

Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the state oil company, said net income surged 42.4 percent last year to $4.5 billion as the average price for the country’s crude-oil exports rose to a record high. PDVSA, as the company is known, said that revenue rose 31.4 percent to $124.8 billion.

Oil spills up 69% in 2011 in Venezuela, El Universal

The numbers disclosed by state-run oil firm Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) confirm an increase in the number of oil spills. Although the 2011 report on social and environmental management highlights “significant progress” in environmental matters, the government statistics show otherwise.

Chavez battles re-election hurdle: Venezuela inflation, Reuters

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is so determined to contain one of the world’s highest inflation rates in an election year that his price control officials are sticking signs outside stores to enforce compliance.

IMF voices concern about Venezuela’s inflation, El Universal

The International Monetary Fund said in its World Economic Outlook that Venezuelan economy is expected to grow in 2012 and 2013, but it showed concerned about the country’s high inflation rate.  The IMF forecast that the Venezuelan economy will grow 4.7% in 2012, with a slowdown in 2013 (3.2%).

Pollster: 72% of the population says that housing policy is negative, El Universal

Luis Vicente León, the director of polling firm Datanálisis said that 72% of Venezuelans believe that the government housing policy is negative.

Venezuela’s election battle: Chavez vs Chavez, Reuters

Hugo Chavez’s biggest enemy ahead of this year’s presidential election in Venezuela could be the socialist leader himself. It is a battle between the sick Chavez who needs peace and quiet to recover from cancer, and the workaholic Chavez determined to keep up the pace to win re-election in October in the toughest political fight of his life.

Documents: Closing of Miami’s Venezuelan consulate was punishment for Chávez foes, Miami Herald

The closing of the Venezuelan consulate in Miami was more about punishing the “feverish” opponents of President Hugo Chávez who live in South Florida than a response to Washington’s decision to expel the consul, according to documents obtained by El Nuevo Herald.

Chavez applauds Argentina’s seizure of Spanish oil assets, London Evening Standard

Fears that Argentina is embarking on a full-scale Venezuelan-style forced nationalisation of foreign-owned oil assets mounted today as President Hugo Chavez gave the country a massive supportive pat on the back.