Changes

The country rose to prominence after 1999, when the [[leftist]] [[dictator]] [[Hugo Chavez]] assumed power and started imposing what he calls "[[socialism]] of the 21st century", aligning himself with terrorist regimes like [[Iran]], and using his petrodollars to influence other countries in the region. After Chavez's death in 2012, his successor [[Nicolas Maduro]] continued those policies also when the mostly liberal opposition alliance [[Democratic Unity Roundtable|MUD]], a coalition of [[liberal]], [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] and centrist parties, got a majority in the Venezuelan parliamentary elections on December 6, 2015.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-idUSKBN0TP03Y20151208 Triumphant Venezuela opposition looks to boost economy, free prisoners]</ref>

The country rose to prominence after 1999, when the [[leftist]] [[dictator]] [[Hugo Chavez]] assumed power and started imposing what he calls "[[socialism]] of the 21st century", aligning himself with terrorist regimes like [[Iran]], and using his petrodollars to influence other countries in the region. After Chavez's death in 2012, his successor [[Nicolas Maduro]] continued those policies also when the mostly liberal opposition alliance [[Democratic Unity Roundtable|MUD]], a coalition of [[liberal]], [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] and centrist parties, got a majority in the Venezuelan parliamentary elections on December 6, 2015.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-idUSKBN0TP03Y20151208 Triumphant Venezuela opposition looks to boost economy, free prisoners]</ref>

Despite its socialist policies, [[abortion]] is illegal in Venezuela.{{cn}}

Despite its socialist policies, [[abortion]] is illegal in Venezuela.[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abortion_Laws.svg]

==National symbols==

==National symbols==