Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has delegated to his vice president some administrative and economic power during his absence to recover from a recent cancer surgery.

Under a decree published by the Official Gazette on Wednesday, Vice President Nicolas Maduro was empowered to make decisions relating to the budget, expropriations and government debt.

The decree, signed by Chavez before heading to Cuba for the cancer surgery, entered into force upon its publication.

Chavez underwent a fourth round of surgery on Dec. 11, since he was first diagnosed with cancer in the pelvic region in June 2011. He is scheduled to be sworn in to a third six-year term on Jan. 10.

Maduro said Monday if Chavez is not be well enough to take the oath of office on that day, he can do so later before the Supreme Court, as stipulated by law.