Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was sworn in for a new six-year term on Wednesday at the National Assembly.

Chavez, who was reelected president of Venezuela on Dec. 3, 2006, has vowed to push ahead with social programs. "I will dedicate my life and my nights to building Venezuelan socialism," he said.

Hugo Chavez, was born on July 28, 1954, in Venezuela's Sabaneta. He graduated from Venezuela's military academy in 1975 with a master's degree in military science and art. He also studied politics at Simon Bolivar University from 1989 to 1990.

He led a failed coup as a paratroops officer to topple former President Carlos Andres Perezand in February 1992 and then was jailed for two years until 1994.

In December 1998, Chavez won the presidency with 56 percent of the votes after campaigning for a broad reform, constitutional changes and a crackdown on corruption.

In 1999, he won Venezuelans' approval in a plebiscite of a new constitution that expands executive powers.

He was re-elected to a six-year term under the new constitution with close to 60 percent of the votes in 2000.

On April 11, 2002, he was ousted in a brief coup by business leaders and dissident military officers. On April 14, military troops loyal to Chavez returned him to power.

As a Roman Catholic, he calls Cuban leader Fidel Castro his political father, 19th century Latin American leader Simon Bolivar his mentor and Jesus Christ his inspiration.