Changes

Venezuela is divided into 23 states, a capital district and 72 federal dependencies. The capital city of Venezuela is [[Caracas]].

Venezuela is divided into 23 states, a capital district and 72 federal dependencies. The capital city of Venezuela is [[Caracas]].

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>[https://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.{{cn}}

* Benefits of social security will be expanded to workers of the informal economy.

* Benefits of social security will be expanded to workers of the informal economy.

The constitutional reform was rejected by the opposition to considered it as an attempt of President Chávez to rule the country indefinitely and to create a socialist economy. Marches against the reform were done in many parts of Venezuela. A major role in the protests was played by university students.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=10136480  Challenging Chávez-for-life, A new kind of opposition], ''The Economist'', November 15, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref> Some supporters of Mr. Chávez such as the allied party ''PODEMOS'', ''Raúl Baduel'' (his ex- Defense Minister) and ''Marisabel Rodríguez'' (his ex-wife) rejected the reform and called the electors to vote against the reform.<ref>[http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/11/05/en_refco_art_former-defense-minis_05A1174277.shtml  Former Defense Minister rejects constitutional reform], ''El Universal'', November 5, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2983752.ece  Ex-wife damns Hugo Chavez ‘coup’], ''The Sunday Times'', December 2, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref>  

The constitutional reform was rejected by the opposition to considered it as an attempt of President Chávez to rule the country indefinitely and to create a socialist economy. Marches against the reform were done in many parts of Venezuela. A major role in the protests was played by university students.<ref>[https://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=10136480  Challenging Chávez-for-life, A new kind of opposition], ''The Economist'', November 15, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref> Some supporters of Mr. Chávez such as the allied party ''PODEMOS'', ''Raúl Baduel'' (his ex- Defense Minister) and ''Marisabel Rodríguez'' (his ex-wife) rejected the reform and called the electors to vote against the reform.<ref>[http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/11/05/en_refco_art_former-defense-minis_05A1174277.shtml  Former Defense Minister rejects constitutional reform], ''El Universal'', November 5, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2983752.ece  Ex-wife damns Hugo Chavez ‘coup’], ''The Sunday Times'', December 2, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref>  

On 2 December 50% of electors voted against the constitutional reform while 49% of electors voted in favor.<ref>[http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/12/03/en_refco_art_venezuelans-said-no_03A1240957.shtml    Venezuelans said “no” to Chávez’s planned reform], ''El Universal'', December 3, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref> The reform was rejected in seven important Venezuelan states, based on the number of voters, namely Zulia, Miranda, Carabobo, Lara, Anzoátegui, and the Capital District (Caracas).<ref>[http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/12/04/en_refco_art_states-of-zulia,-mir_04A1243797.shtml States of Zulia, Miranda and Táchira played a decisive role], ''El Universal'', December 4, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref> It is the first time since Chávez won power in 1998 that the current government lost at the polls.  

On 2 December 50% of electors voted against the constitutional reform while 49% of electors voted in favor.<ref>[http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/12/03/en_refco_art_venezuelans-said-no_03A1240957.shtml    Venezuelans said “no” to Chávez’s planned reform], ''El Universal'', December 3, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref> The reform was rejected in seven important Venezuelan states, based on the number of voters, namely Zulia, Miranda, Carabobo, Lara, Anzoátegui, and the Capital District (Caracas).<ref>[http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/12/04/en_refco_art_states-of-zulia,-mir_04A1243797.shtml States of Zulia, Miranda and Táchira played a decisive role], ''El Universal'', December 4, 2007. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.</ref> It is the first time since Chávez won power in 1998 that the current government lost at the polls.  

===Decent into chaos, instability, and a military state===

===Decent into chaos, instability, and a military state===

By 2017, Venezuela was in serious economic and political [[chaos]], having become a virtual military state and becoming a humanitarian disaster.<ref>Kew, Ben (December 24, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/12/24/venezuela-2017-socialist-policies-take-humanitarian-toll-as-country-enters-dictatorship/ Venezuela 2017: Socialist Policies Take Humanitarian Toll as Country Enters Dictatorship]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref> Massive hyperinflation was present in the country.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (April 17, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/28769-starvation-suicides-increasing-under-venezuelas-hyperinflation Starvation, Suicides Increasing Under Venezuela's Hyperinflation]. ''The New American''. Retrieved April 20, 2018.</ref> Many non-Venezuelan [[liberal]]s had praised the nation's slide into this poor state.<ref>Kew, Ben (May 4, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/04/ten-influential-public-figures-praised-venezuelas-descent-socialist-hell/ 10 Famous People Who Praised Venezuela’s Descent Into Socialist Hell]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 5, 2017.</ref> However, many of the "opposition" did not want to truly end the socialist policies.<ref>Martel, Frances (May 17, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/17/former-un-security-council-head-in-venezuela-even-opposition-uncomfortable-defying-socialism/ Former U.N. Security Council Head: In Venezuela, Even Opposition Uncomfortable Defying ‘Socialism’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Venezuela's May 2018 presidential election was derided by many countries as a sham and an illustration of its descent into authoritarianism.<ref>Multiple references:

By 2017, Venezuela was in serious economic and political [[chaos]], having become a virtual military state and becoming a humanitarian disaster.<ref>Kew, Ben (December 24, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/12/24/venezuela-2017-socialist-policies-take-humanitarian-toll-as-country-enters-dictatorship/ Venezuela 2017: Socialist Policies Take Humanitarian Toll as Country Enters Dictatorship]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref> Massive hyperinflation was present in the country.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (April 17, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/28769-starvation-suicides-increasing-under-venezuelas-hyperinflation Starvation, Suicides Increasing Under Venezuela's Hyperinflation]. ''The New American''. Retrieved April 20, 2018.</ref> Many non-Venezuelan [[liberal]]s had praised the nation's slide into this poor state.<ref>Kew, Ben (May 4, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/04/ten-influential-public-figures-praised-venezuelas-descent-socialist-hell/ 10 Famous People Who Praised Venezuela’s Descent Into Socialist Hell]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 5, 2017.</ref> However, many of the "opposition" did not want to truly end the socialist policies.<ref>Martel, Frances (May 17, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/17/former-un-security-council-head-in-venezuela-even-opposition-uncomfortable-defying-socialism/ Former U.N. Security Council Head: In Venezuela, Even Opposition Uncomfortable Defying ‘Socialism’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Venezuela's May 2018 presidential election was derided by many countries as a sham and an illustration of its descent into authoritarianism.<ref>Multiple references:

*Llorente, Elizabeth (May 21, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/21/re-election-venezuelan-president-denounced-as-sham-calls-grow-for-more-sanctions.html Re-election of Venezuelan president denounced as sham, calls grow for more sanctions]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 21, 2018.

*Llorente, Elizabeth (May 21, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/21/re-election-venezuelan-president-denounced-as-sham-calls-grow-for-more-sanctions.html Re-election of Venezuelan president denounced as sham, calls grow for more sanctions]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 21, 2018.

*Ulmer, Alexandra; Rampton, Roberta (May 20, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-reaction/re-elected-venezuelas-maduro-faces-global-criticism-u-s-sanctions-idUSKCN1IM0CT Re-elected, Venezuela's Maduro faces global criticism, U.S. sanctions]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved May 21, 2018.

*Ulmer, Alexandra; Rampton, Roberta (May 20, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-election-reaction/re-elected-venezuelas-maduro-faces-global-criticism-u-s-sanctions-idUSKCN1IM0CT Re-elected, Venezuela's Maduro faces global criticism, U.S. sanctions]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved May 21, 2018.