By Nathalie Malinarich
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had always said that with his new term in office, beginning on 10 January, the socialist revolution would start in earnest. And, after his resounding victory on 3 December, he has wasted no time.
Before even being sworn in for the third time, Mr Chavez has said that he wants to merge all his coalition partners into a single party, warned he will not renew an opposition TV channel's licence and announced he will nationalise key businesses.
The new vice-president (l) is seen as a sign of the new era
He has also called on the National Assembly to give him the power to rule by decree for a year and replaced his Vice-President, Jose Vicente Rangel, seen as a key figure in his previous administration.
While some of the announcements themselves have not come as a complete surprise, for many, the intensity and pace of the change has.
Exactly what the so-called deepening of the Bolivarian Revolution - named in honour of the 19th Century independence hero - would entail was not made clear during the presidential campaign.
Whatever its shape, the notion of the socialist days to come fills Mr Chavez's supporters with hope and his opponents with dread.
With each speech, Mr Chavez gives more details of what he plans to do.
Swearing in his cabinet two days before his own inauguration, Mr Chavez explained that the new era would be backed by "five engines", which would:
- allow him to rule by decree for 18 months
- lead to socialist constitutional reforms
- reinforce popular education
- change the "geometry of power" or the way political, social, economic and military power is distributed across the territory
- lead to the "explosion of communal councils"
In the same address, Mr Chavez also announced he would nationalise key businesses, declared himself a Trotskyist and cited the ideas of Marx and Lenin.
Chavez backers, or Chavistas, say the revolution will lead to social equality - his critics argue it will turn him into a Castro-like autocrat.
Political analyst Alberto Garrido says Venezuelans are likely to hear many more radical policy announcements in the coming days, months and years.
"In this 'permanent revolution' we are in for endless surprises," he says.
Mr Garrido says the revolution that is being established in Venezuela is unique and does not follow the Cuban model, as many of the government's critics say.
One of the innovations announced by Mr Chavez is his Cabinet, he adds.
Its members are now "ministers of popular power" - they have a direct link to the people and are expected to operate more like a team than a classical Cabinet.
The ministers - who are mostly younger than their predecessors - will be expected to spread the revolution from the streets.
Another sign of the changing times, observers say, is Mr Chavez's decision to replace Mr Rangel as vice-president.
Mr Rangel was an important figure in the "transition period" that ended with the December elections - he was seen as someone who could reach out to other groups.
Hugo Chavez has been citing Trotsky, Marx and Lenin
His replacement, Jorge Rodriguez, is described by critics as a radical who does not tolerate dissent.
But Mr Chavez is not carrying out his revolution in isolation.
Mr Garrido says international affairs may be playing a part in what he says is Mr Chavez's decision to go faster down the path of his "21st Century socialism".
He says that problems facing key Chavez allies - Bolivia, Ecuador's president-elect and Iran - may make him want to establish this phase of the revolution before the 2014 deadline he has set.
Another possible factor behind Mr Chavez's recent announcements may have been the nomination to the US state department of John Negroponte - known to be very critical of the Venezuelan president - Mr Garrido says.
On the international front, Mr Chavez will also be keen to continue spreading his own brand of socialism abroad, which once again will set him on a collision course with the US and other Western nations.
That will not be the only battle on his hands.
Mr Chavez's recent announcement that he will not renew the licence of the country's most viewed terrestrial channel, RCTV - which he accuses of having backed a failed coup against him in 2002 - is likely to lead to a wider confrontation with the media.
Whatever happens, it looks likely that the world will be hearing a lot more about President Chavez's revolution.