Hugo Chávez

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.

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