The 2010 TIME 100 Poll

Cast your votes for the leaders, artists, innovators and icons who you think are the most influential people in the world. Though official voting for inclusion on the TIME 100 list has now closed, with Mir-Hossein Mousavi having won the honor, users can continue to vote for their favorites until the list is revealed on Thursday, April 29th

2010 Candidates

Hugo Chávez

By TIME STAFFThursday, Apr. 01, 2010
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Gerardo Garcia / Reuters

Age: 55
Occupation: President of Venezuela
Previous TIME 100 Appearances: 2

Last year Venezuelans approved indefinite re-election for Presidents — which Chávez hopes will keep him and his socialist, anti-U.S. revolution in power for years to come. But while the leftist firebrand has gotten Latin America to focus more on narrowing its epic gap between rich and poor, lower oil prices and mismanagement have stalled Venezuela's economy and buoyed Chávez's opposition, which calls him a wannabe dictator in the mold of his idol, Fidel Castro.

Next Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva