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'''Venezuela''' is located in [[South America]]. The country is located to the east of [[Colombia]], south of the [[Caribbean]], west of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Guayana Esequiba]] and north of [[Brazil]].  Discovered by [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]], the sight of the marsh huts built by the native people would result in the country being referred to as "little Venice", for [[Venice]], Italy.  

'''Venezuela''' is located in [[South America]]. The country is located to the east of [[Colombia]], south of the [[Caribbean]], west of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Guayana Esequiba]] and north of [[Brazil]].  Discovered by [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]], the sight of the marsh huts built by the native people would result in the country being referred to as "little Venice", for [[Venice]], Italy. 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>[https://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}}

Once the wealthiest South American country, [[socialist]] policies created instability and mass starvation by 2019.<ref name="Socialism">Lott, Maxim (January 25, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/world/how-socialism-turned-venezuela-from-the-wealthiest-country-in-south-america-into-an-economic-basket-case How socialism turned Venezuela from the wealthiest country in South America into an economic basket case]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 26, 2019.</ref>

==National symbols==

==National symbols==

===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). [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.<br>See also:

By 2017, Venezuela was in serious economic and political [[chaos]], having become a virtual military state and becoming a humanitarian disaster.<ref name="Socialism"/><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.<br>See also:

*Carafano, James Jay (January 11, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/americas-progressives-are-so-busy-extolling-virtues-of-socialism-that-they-want-you-to-ignore-this America's progressives are so busy extolling virtues of socialism that they want you to ignore THIS]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.</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:

*Carafano, James Jay (January 11, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/americas-progressives-are-so-busy-extolling-virtues-of-socialism-that-they-want-you-to-ignore-this America's progressives are so busy extolling virtues of socialism that they want you to ignore THIS]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.</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.

*Kew, Ben (January 10, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/01/10/venezuelas-maduro-inaugurated-second-term-world-war/ Venezuela’s Maduro Inaugurated for Second Term: ‘We Are in a World War’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

*Kew, Ben (January 10, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/01/10/venezuelas-maduro-inaugurated-second-term-world-war/ Venezuela’s Maduro Inaugurated for Second Term: ‘We Are in a World War’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

See also:

See also:

*Adelmann, Bob (January 15, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/31193-pressure-building-to-remove-venezuela-s-marxist-dictator Pressure Building to Remove Venezuela’s Marxist Dictator]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 15, 2019.</ref> Venezuela's parliament, now controlled by the opposition, attempted to remove Maduro from office.<ref>Mass, Warren (January 14, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/31183-venezuela-legislature-wants-maduro-out-brazil-recognizes-guaido-as-president Venezuela Legislature Wants Maduro Out; Brazil Recognizes Guaido as President]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 14, 2019.</ref>

*Adelmann, Bob (January 15, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/31193-pressure-building-to-remove-venezuela-s-marxist-dictator Pressure Building to Remove Venezuela’s Marxist Dictator]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 15, 2019.</ref> Venezuela's parliament, now controlled by the opposition, attempted to remove Maduro from office.<ref>Mass, Warren (January 14, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/31183-venezuela-legislature-wants-maduro-out-brazil-recognizes-guaido-as-president Venezuela Legislature Wants Maduro Out; Brazil Recognizes Guaido as President]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 14, 2019.</ref> On January 23, 2019, opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself Venezuela's interim president and was recognized by several countries.<ref>Martel, Frances (January 23, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2019/01/23/venezuela-swears-in-opposition-leader-as-president/ Venezuela Swears In Opposition Leader as President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 26, 2019.<br>See also:

*Martel, Frances (January 26, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2019/01/26/venezuela-new-president-is-a-socialist/ Maduro Regime, American Left Ignore Socialist Pedigree of Venezuela’s New President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 26, 2019.</ref>

==Famous Venezuelans==

==Famous Venezuelans==