CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's Supreme Court president said Wednesday that the upcoming inauguration of ailing President Hugo Chavez can legally be postponed.

Supreme Court President Luisa Estella Morales made the statement amid a heated debate between the government and opposition over whether the constitution requires the cancer-stricken leader to be sworn in for a new term on Thursday. The congress voted to delay the ceremony on Tuesday.

Morales announced her stance after the country's opposition coalition said it would ask the court for an opinion on the National Assembly's decision to postpone Chavez's inauguration for a new term.