Editing Venezuela (section)

=== Bolivarian government under Maduro: 2013–present ===
{{main|Presidency of Nicolás Maduro}}
{{further|Crisis in Venezuela}}
The presidential election that took place in April 2013, was the first since Chávez took office in 1999 in which his name did not appear on the ballot.<ref>[http://venezuelablog.tumblr.com/ Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407045343/http://venezuelablog.tumblr.com/ |date=7 April 2018}}. Venezuelablog.tumblr.com. Retrieved on 20 April 2013.</ref>{{Self-published inline|date=October 2022}}
Under the Bolivarian government, Venezuela went from being one of the richest countries in Latin America to one of the poorest.<ref name="RICHtoRAGS">{{cite web|title=From riches to rags: Venezuela's economic crisis: The Big Picture|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL8d91vdR9g|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]|access-date=2 March 2018|date=14 February 2018|archive-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301213406/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL8d91vdR9g|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Economic policy of the Hugo Chávez administration|Hugo Chávez's socioeconomic policies]] of relying on oil sales and importing goods resulted in large amounts of debt, no change to [[corruption in Venezuela]] and culminated into a [[crisis in Venezuela]].<ref name="RICHtoRAGS" /> As a result, the [[Venezuelan refugee crisis]], the largest emigration of people in Latin America's history,<ref name="WPfeb18">{{cite news|last1=Board|first1=Editorial|title=Opinion {{!}} Latin-America's worst-ever refugee crisis: Venezuelans|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/the-collapse-in-venezuela-is-creating-a-refugee-crisis/2018/02/23/68b85c7e-1807-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224013027/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/the-collapse-in-venezuela-is-creating-a-refugee-crisis/2018/02/23/68b85c7e-1807-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2018|access-date=25 February 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=23 February 2018|quote=This human outflow, ... is the largest displacement of people in Latin American history}}</ref> occurred, with over 7 million – about 20% of the country's population – emigrating.<ref name=LPgracias>{{cite news|title=Gracias a las malas políticas del Gobierno bolivariano, más de 4 millones de venezolanos se han ido del país (encuesta)|url=https://www.lapatilla.com/site/2018/01/19/gracias-a-las-malas-politicas-del-gobierno-bolivariano-mas-de-4-millones-de-venezolanos-se-han-ido-del-pais-encuesta/|access-date=20 January 2018|work=[[La Patilla]]|date=19 January 2018|language=es-ES|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141723/https://www.lapatilla.com/site/2018/01/19/gracias-a-las-malas-politicas-del-gobierno-bolivariano-mas-de-4-millones-de-venezolanos-se-han-ido-del-pais-encuesta/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WSJfeb18">{{cite news|last1=Forero|first1=Juan|last2=Protti|first2=Tommaso|title=Venezuela's Misery Fuels Migration on Epic Scale|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuelas-misery-fuels-migration-on-epic-scale-1518517800|access-date=13 February 2018|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=13 February 2018|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115223031/https://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuelas-misery-fuels-migration-on-epic-scale-1518517800|url-status=live}}</ref> Chávez initiated [[Bolivarian missions]], programs aimed at helping the poor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coha.org/hugo-chavez-and-the-future-of-venezuela/|title=Hugo Chávez and the Future of Venezuela|date=4 December 2011|access-date=26 October 2020|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029095823/https://www.coha.org/hugo-chavez-and-the-future-of-venezuela/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Nicolás Maduro in 2023 (cropped).jpg|thumb|265x265px|[[Nicolás Maduro]] in 2023]]
Poverty began to increase into the 2010s.<ref name="UN">Charlie Devereux & Raymond Colitt. 7 March 2013. {{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-07/venezuelans-quality-of-life-improved-in-un-index-under-chavez.html |title=Venezuelans' Quality of Life Improved in UN Index Under Chavez |work=[[Bloomberg.com]] |access-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107050220/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-07/venezuelans-quality-of-life-improved-in-un-index-under-chavez.html |archive-date=7 November 2014 |url-status=unfit}}</ref> [[Nicolás Maduro]] was picked by Chavez as his successor, appointing him vice president in 2013.<ref name="Economist" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/venezuela-chavez-maduro/factbox-chavezs-chosen-successor-nicolas-maduro-idINDEE8B805U20121209|title=FACTBOX – Chavez's chosen successor Nicolas Maduro|first=Andrew Cawthorne and Mario|last=Naranjo|newspaper=Reuters|date=9 December 2012|access-date=3 October 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035445/https://uk.reuters.com/article/venezuela-chavez-maduro/factbox-chavezs-chosen-successor-nicolas-maduro-idINDEE8B805U20121209|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/15/nicolas-maduro-wins-venezuelan-election|title=Nicolás Maduro narrowly wins Venezuelan presidential election|first=Virginia Lopez Jonathan|last=Watts|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 April 2013|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-date=21 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121085107/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/15/nicolas-maduro-wins-venezuelan-election|url-status=live}}</ref>

Maduro has been [[president of Venezuela]] since 14 April 2013, when he won the [[2013 Venezuelan presidential election|presidential election]] after Chavez' death, with 51% of the vote, against [[Henrique Capriles]] on 49%. The [[Democratic Unity Roundtable]] contested Maduro's election as fraud, but an audit of 56% of the vote showed no discrepancies,<ref name="BBC12June">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22866490|title=Venezuela audit confirms Nicolas Maduro electoral victory|work=[[BBC News]]|date=12 June 2013|access-date=18 June 2013|archive-date=16 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616010205/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22866490|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Supreme Court of Venezuela]] ruled Maduro was the legitimate president.<ref>{{cite news |title=Venezuelan opposition challenges Nicolás Maduro's legitimacy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/09/venezuela-maduro-challenge |location=London |work=The Guardian |first1=Rory |last1=Carroll |first2=Virginia |last2=Lopez |date=9 March 2013 |access-date=13 December 2016 |archive-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624224130/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/09/venezuela-maduro-challenge |url-status=live}}</ref> Opposition leaders and some international media consider Maduro's government a dictatorship.<ref name=reuters-maduro /><ref name=hrw-maduro>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/03/31/venezuelas-crumbling-facade-democracy|title=Venezuela's crumbling façade of democracy|author=José Miguel Vivanco|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|quote=This ruling is the end of Maduro administration's façade of democracy.|date=31 March 2017|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=27 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727171730/https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/03/31/venezuelas-crumbling-facade-democracy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=wpo-maduro>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2016/10/21/its-official-venezuela-is-a-dictatorship/|title=It's official: Venezuela is a full-blown dictatorship|author=Francisco Toro|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=21 October 2016|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810172817/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2016/10/21/its-official-venezuela-is-a-dictatorship/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since February 2014, hundreds of thousands have protested over high levels of criminal violence, corruption, hyperinflation, and chronic scarcity of basic goods due to government policies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Protesters in Venezuela Press Government |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304834704579401612202743396 |access-date=12 April 2014 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=23 February 2014 |first1=Ezequiel |last1=Minaya |first2=Kejal |last2=Vyas |archive-date=25 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225003252/https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304834704579401612202743396 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Venezuelans protest en masse in rival rallies |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/02/24/venezuelans-protest-en-masse-in-rival-rallies/ |access-date=12 April 2014 |newspaper=Borneo Post |date=24 February 2014 |archive-date=12 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012091225/http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/02/24/venezuelans-protest-en-masse-in-rival-rallies/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Venezuela Inflation Hits 16-Year High as Shortages Rise |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-07/venezuela-inflation-hits-16-year-high-as-shortages-rise.html |access-date=16 February 2014 |work=[[Bloomberg.com]] |date=7 November 2013 |first=Anatoly |last=Kurmanaev |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222160511/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-07/venezuela-inflation-hits-16-year-high-as-shortages-rise.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Demonstrations and riots have resulted in over 40 fatalities in the unrest between Chavistas and opposition protesters<ref name="2014protests">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1F0SQ20140217 |title=Venezuela's Lopez says ready for arrest at Tuesday march |last1=Wallis |first1=Daniel |last2=Chinea |first2=Eyanir |date=16 February 2014 |website=reuters.com |publisher=Thomson Reuters |access-date=16 February 2014 |archive-date=17 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217042736/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/17/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1F0SQ20140217 |url-status=live}}</ref> and opposition leaders, including [[Leopoldo López]] and [[Antonio Ledezma]] were arrested.<ref name="2014protests" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Venezuela HRF Declares Leopoldo Lopez a Prisoner of Conscience and Calls for his Immediate Release |website=Human Rights Foundation |url=http://humanrightsfoundation.org/news/venezuela-hrf-declares-leopoldo-López-a-prisoner-of-conscience-and-calls-for-his-immediate-release-00355}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sebin se lleva detenido al alcalde Antonio Ledezma |url=http://www.lapatilla.com/site/2015/02/19/sebin-se-lleva-detenido-al-alcalde-antonio-ledezma/ |website=La Patilla |access-date=19 February 2015 |archive-date=20 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220013237/http://www.lapatilla.com/site/2015/02/19/sebin-se-lleva-detenido-al-alcalde-antonio-ledezma/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Human rights groups condemned the arrest of López.<ref>{{cite web |title=Venezuela: Human rights groups reject condemnation of jailed Leopoldo Lopez as 'baseless' |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/venezuela-human-rights-groups-reject-condemnation-jailed-leopoldo-lopez-baseless-1519333 |website=International Business Times UK |date=11 September 2015 |access-date=17 November 2015 |archive-date=14 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114205005/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/venezuela-human-rights-groups-reject-condemnation-jailed-leopoldo-lopez-baseless-1519333 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2015 Venezuelan parliamentary election]], the opposition gained a majority.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Rosati|first1=Andrew|last2=Soto|first2=Noris|date=6 December 2015|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-06/venezuelans-to-vote-in-polls-seen-handing-congress-to-opposition|title=Venezuela Seen Handing Congress to Opposition in Sunday Vote|work=[[Bloomberg.com]]|access-date=22 August 2016|archive-date=6 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206224919/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-06/venezuelans-to-vote-in-polls-seen-handing-congress-to-opposition|url-status=live}}</ref>

Venezuela devalued its currency in February 2013 due to rising shortages,<ref name="Businessweek" /><ref name=WSJ-Devalue-Currency/> [[shortages in Venezuela|which included]] milk and other necessities. This led to an increase in malnutrition, especially among children.<ref name=TheGuardian-Food-Shortages>{{cite news |last=Lopez |first=Virginia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/sep/26/venezuela-food-shortages-rich-country-cia |title=Venezuela food shortages: 'No one can explain why a rich country has no food' |work=theguardian.com |date=26 September 2013 |access-date=30 December 2013 |archive-date=25 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725134505/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/sep/26/venezuela-food-shortages-rich-country-cia |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ECONeatCHAVISMO">{{cite news |title=Let them eat Chavismo The UN honours Venezuela for curbing hunger—which is actually getting worse |url=https://www.economist.com/news/americas/21654653-un-honours-venezuela-curbing-hungerwhich-actually-getting-worse-let-them-eat-chavismo |access-date=22 July 2015 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=20 June 2015 |archive-date=12 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712074112/http://www.economist.com/news/americas/21654653-un-honours-venezuela-curbing-hungerwhich-actually-getting-worse-let-them-eat-chavismo |url-status=live}}</ref> The economy had become dependent on the exportation of oil, with crude accounting for 86% of exports,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/ven/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329043503/https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/ven/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 March 2019 |title=Venezuela |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=5 February 2019 |website=Massachusetts Institute of Technology: The Observatory of Economic Complexity |publisher=The Massachusetts Institute of Technology |access-date=5 February 2019}}</ref> and a high price per barrel to support social programs. Beginning in 2014 the [[price of oil]] plummeted from over $100 to $40. This placed pressure on the economy, which was no longer able to afford vast social programs. The Government began taking more money from [[PDVSA]], the state oil company, resulting in a lack of reinvestment in fields and employees. Production decreased from its height of nearly {{convert|3|to|1|e6oilbbl|e3m3|abbr=off|lk=on}} per day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/world/americas/venezuela-oil-economy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614225843/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/world/americas/venezuela-oil-economy.html |archive-date=14 June 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Workers Flee and Thieves Loot Venezuela's Reeling Oil Giant|last1=Neuman|first1=William|date=14 June 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 June 2018|last2=Krauss|first2=Clifford}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-workers-insight/under-military-rule-venezuela-oil-workers-quit-in-a-stampede-idUSKBN1HO0H9|title=Under military rule, Venezuela oil workers quit in a stampede|last=Buitrago|first=Deisy|date=17 April 2018|website=[[Reuters]]|access-date=2 July 2018|archive-date=29 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929203614/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-workers-insight/under-military-rule-venezuela-oil-workers-quit-in-a-stampede-idUSKBN1HO0H9|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/maduro-wrecked-venezuelas-oil-industry-11549325002|title=Maduro Wrecked Venezuela's Oil Industry|last=Yergin|first=Daniel|date=4 February 2019|website=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=5 February 2019|archive-date=5 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205062911/https://www.wsj.com/articles/maduro-wrecked-venezuelas-oil-industry-11549325002|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, Venezuela entered a [[recession]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-economy-idUSKBN0K81KV20141231 |last1=Pons |first1=Corina |last2=Cawthorne |first2=Andrew |title=Recession-hit Venezuela vows New Year reforms, foes scoff |access-date=24 March 2017 |work=Reuters |date=30 December 2014 |archive-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325112919/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-economy-idUSKBN0K81KV20141231 |url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2015, had the world's highest inflation, surpassing 100%.<ref name="FPblackbox">{{cite news |last1=Cristóbal Nagel |first1=Juan |title=Looking Into the Black Box of Venezuela's Economy |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/13/looking-into-the-black-box-of-venezuelas-economy-caracas-bolivar-maduro/ |access-date=14 July 2015 |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |date=13 July 2015 |archive-date=11 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611100054/https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/13/looking-into-the-black-box-of-venezuelas-economy-caracas-bolivar-maduro/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, [[Donald Trump]]'s administration imposed more [[economic sanctions]] against PDVSA and Venezuelan officials.<ref>{{cite news |title=With executive order, Trump imposes new round of Venezuela sanctions |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/25/executive-order-trump-imposes-new-round-venezuela-sanctions/601667001/ |work=USA Today |date=25 August 2017 |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=1 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301010435/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/25/executive-order-trump-imposes-new-round-venezuela-sanctions/601667001/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dollars Are Out, Euros Are In as U.S. Sanctions Sting Venezuela |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-16/dollars-are-out-euros-are-in-as-u-s-sanctions-sting-venezuela |work=[[Bloomberg.com]] |date=16 October 2018 |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=17 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617051850/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-16/dollars-are-out-euros-are-in-as-u-s-sanctions-sting-venezuela |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. sanctions Venezuela officials, Trump slams Maduro |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-venezuela/u-s-sanctions-venezuela-officials-trump-slams-maduro-idUSKCN1M51WC |work=[[Reuters]] |date=25 September 2018 |first1=Lesley |last1=Wroughton |first2=Brian |last2=Ellsworth |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=25 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125020615/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-venezuela/u-s-sanctions-venezuela-officials-trump-slams-maduro-idUSKCN1M51WC |url-status=live}}</ref> Economic problems, as well as crime, were the causes of the [[Venezuelan protests (2014–present)|2014–present Venezuelan protests]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Venezuela's economic nightmare takes an ugly turn |url=http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/03/14/venezuela-protests-inflation/ |access-date=28 May 2014 |newspaper=CNN Money |date=14 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528060618/http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/03/14/venezuela-protests-inflation/ |archive-date=28 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Garreau |first=Simone |title=Venezuelan Oil Dynamics: Why The Protests Matter |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/riskmap/2014/05/12/venezuelan-oil-dynamics-why-the-protests-matter/ |access-date=28 May 2014 |newspaper=Forbes |date=12 May 2014 |archive-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726140157/http://www.forbes.com/sites/riskmap/2014/05/12/venezuelan-oil-dynamics-why-the-protests-matter/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2014, roughly 5.6 million people have [[Venezuelan refugee crisis|fled Venezuela]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Venezuela crisis: How the political situation escalated |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36319877 |access-date=15 September 2021 |agency=BBC |date=12 August 2021 |archive-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212214918/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36319877 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2016, Maduro decreed an "economic emergency", revealing the extent of the crisis and expanding his powers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-economy-idUSKCN0UT2ER|title=Venezuela decrees 'economic emergency,' reveals depth of crisis|last1=Cawthorne|first1=Andrew|last2=Ulmer|first2=Alexandra|newspaper=Reuters|date=15 January 2016|access-date=16 October 2018|archive-date=16 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016203315/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-economy-idUSKCN0UT2ER|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2016, Colombian border crossings were temporarily opened to allow Venezuelans to purchase food and basic health items.<ref name="Venezuelans Cross Into Colombia In Search Of Food">{{cite news |title=Thousands Of Venezuelans Cross Into Colombia In Search Of Food And Medicine |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/venezuela-colombia-bridge-photo_us_578be683e4b0867123e1ab77 |access-date=29 July 2016 |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=17 July 2016 |archive-date=21 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721110554/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/venezuela-colombia-bridge-photo_us_578be683e4b0867123e1ab77 |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2016, a study<ref name="Hambre en Venezuela: El 15.7% de los venezolanos se ha alimentado de residuos">{{cite news |title=Hambre en Venezuela: El 15,7% de los venezolanos se ha alimentado de residuos |url=http://www.diariolasamericas.com/america-latina/hambre-venezuela-el-157-de-los-venezolanos-se-ha-alimentado-residuos-n4102524 |access-date=9 September 2016 |work=[[Diario Las Américas]] |date=9 September 2016 |archive-date=11 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911185504/http://www.diariolasamericas.com/america-latina/hambre-venezuela-el-157-de-los-venezolanos-se-ha-alimentado-residuos-n4102524 |url-status=live}}</ref> indicated 15% of Venezuelans were eating "[[food waste]] discarded by commercial establishments". 200 prison riots had occurred by October 2016.<ref name="Man claims son was eaten by fellow inmates during riot in Venezuelan prison">{{cite news |title=Man claims son was eaten by fellow inmates during riot in Venezuelan prison |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2016/10/14/man-claims-son-was-eaten-by-fellow-inmates-during-riot-in-venezuelan-prison/ |access-date=15 October 2016 |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=14 October 2016 |archive-date=14 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014192725/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2016/10/14/man-claims-son-was-eaten-by-fellow-inmates-during-riot-in-venezuelan-prison/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:The TSJ chamber at Maduro 2019 inauguration.jpg|thumb|left|Maduro was [[Second inauguration of Nicolás Maduro|inaugurated]] for a [[2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis|contested]] and controversial second term on 10 January 2019.]]
The Maduro-aligned [[Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Venezuela)|Supreme Tribunal]], which had been overturning [[National Assembly (Venezuela)|National Assembly]] decisions since the opposition took control, took over the functions of the assembly, creating the [[2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis]].<ref name=reuters-maduro>{{cite news |title=Venezuela's Maduro decried as 'dictator' after Congress annulled |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN17122M |access-date=26 April 2017 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=27 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427195005/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN17122M/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2017, the [[2017 Constituent National Assembly]] was elected and stripped the National Assembly of its powers.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} The election raised concerns of an emerging dictatorship.<ref name="NYTjail">{{cite news|last1=Casey|first1=Nicholas|last2=Herrero|first2=Ana Vanessa|title=Jailings Raise Fears of Dictatorship in Venezuela|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/world/americas/venezuela-opposition-nicolas-maduro.html|access-date=2 August 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=1 August 2017|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801233703/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/world/americas/venezuela-opposition-nicolas-maduro.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2017, Maduro declared opposition parties barred from the following year's presidential vote after they boycotted mayoral polls.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/11/venezuelas-nicolas-maduro-bans-opposition-parties-election/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/11/venezuelas-nicolas-maduro-bans-opposition-parties-election/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro bans opposition parties from election|agency=Agence France-Presse|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 December 2017|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Maduro won the [[2018 Venezuelan presidential election|2018 election]] with 68% of the vote. The result was challenged by Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, France and the US who deemed it fraudulent and recognized [[Juan Guaidó]] as president.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Charner | first1=Flora | last2=Newton | first2=Paula | last3=Gallón | first3=Natalie |date=21 May 2018 |title=Opponents slam Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's election victory as a sham |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/20/americas/venezuela-elections/index.html | work=CNN | access-date=13 November 2018 | quote=An alliance of 14 Latin American nations and Canada, known as the Lima Group, released a statement Monday calling the vote illegitimate... The alliance includes Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, St. Lucia, Guyana, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica. |archive-date=13 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113210747/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/20/americas/venezuela-elections/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Sam |last2=Wintour |first2=Patrick |title=EU countries recognise Juan Guaidó as interim Venezuelan leader |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/04/juan-guaido-interim-venezuela-leader-europe |access-date=4 February 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 February 2019 |archive-date=13 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113154658/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/04/juan-guaido-interim-venezuela-leader-europe |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rapalo |first1=Manuel |date=26 January 2019 |title=Mexico stays neutral in Venezuela political crisis |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/mexico-stays-neutral-venezuela-political-crisis-190126152842450.html |access-date=4 February 2019 |archive-date=3 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203204038/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/mexico-stays-neutral-venezuela-political-crisis-190126152842450.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Other countries continued to recognize Maduro,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roth |first1=Andrew |last2=Kuo |first2=Lily |last3=Agren |first3=David |last4=Augustin |first4=Ed |last5=Walker |first5=Peter |date=24 January 2019 |title=Russia and key allies vow to stand by Maduro in Venezuela crisis |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/24/juan-guaido-venezuelas-opposition-leader-declares-himself-interim-president |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=24 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124200603/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/24/juan-guaido-venezuelas-opposition-leader-declares-himself-interim-president |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Russia, Turkey, China denounce US interference in Venezuela |work=Al Jazeera |date=25 January 2019 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/world-powers-denounce-interference-venezuela-190124102403407.html |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=24 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124211450/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/world-powers-denounce-interference-venezuela-190124102403407.html |url-status=live}}</ref> although China, facing financial pressure over its position, began hedging by decreasing loans, cancelling joint ventures, and signaling willingness to work with all parties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lau |first1=Stuart |title=Self-declared leader of Venezuela Juan Guaido extends olive branch to China, wants 'productive and mutually beneficial relationship' |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2184773/exclusive-self-declared-leader-venezuela-juan-guaido-extends |access-date=5 February 2019 |work=The South China Morning Post |date=2 February 2019 |archive-date=4 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204090126/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2184773/exclusive-self-declared-leader-venezuela-juan-guaido-extends |url-status=live}}<br />{{*}}{{cite news |last1=Page |first1=Jeremy |title=China Counts the Costs of Its Big Bet on Venezuela |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-counts-the-costs-of-its-big-bet-on-venezuela-11549038825 |access-date=6 February 2019 |url-access=subscription |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=1 February 2019 |archive-date=6 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206001805/https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-counts-the-costs-of-its-big-bet-on-venezuela-11549038825 |url-status=live}}<br />{{*}}{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Henry |last2=Arkhipov |first2=Ilya |date=6 February 2019 |title=Russia Starts to Worry Maduro's Grip Is Slipping in Venezuela |work=The Moscow Times |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russia-starts-to-worry-maduros-grip-is-slipping-in-venezuela-64416 |access-date=6 February 2019 |archive-date=6 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206152404/https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russia-starts-to-worry-maduros-grip-is-slipping-in-venezuela-64416 |url-status=live}}<br />{{*}}{{cite news |last1=Gedan |first1=Benjamin |title=China's Venezuela Policy Is Losing Popularity – in China |url=https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/change-coming-chinas-venezuela-policy |access-date=8 February 2019 |work=America's Quarterly |date=27 November 2018 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124304/https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/change-coming-chinas-venezuela-policy |url-status=live}}<br />{{*}}{{Cite news |last1=Lo |first1=Kinling |date=9 February 2019 |title=From oil to infrastructure, why China has plenty to lose from political turmoil in Venezuela |work=South China Morning Post |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2185467/oil-infrastructure-why-china-has-plenty-lose-political-turmoil |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212061539/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2185467/oil-infrastructure-why-china-has-plenty-lose-political-turmoil |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release  |publisher=OAS – Organization of American States|title=OAS Permanent Council Agrees "to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro's new term" |website=www.oas.org |url=http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-001/19 |date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124053630/http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-001%2F19|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref> In August 2019, Trump imposed an economic embargo against Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Paul LeBlanc |title=Trump announces total economic embargo against Venezuela |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/05/politics/trump-economic-embargo-venezuela/index.html |website=CNN |date=6 August 2019 |access-date=6 August 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806020614/https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/05/politics/trump-economic-embargo-venezuela/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2020, Trump indicted Maduro and Venezuelan officials, on charges of drug trafficking, [[narcoterrorism]], and corruption.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nicol-s-maduro-moros-and-14-current-and-former-venezuelan-officials-charged-narco-terrorism|title=Nicolás Maduro Moros and 14 Current and Former Venezuelan Officials Charged with Narco-Terrorism, Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Criminal Charges|date=26 March 2020|website=www.justice.gov|access-date=26 March 2020|archive-date=26 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326173311/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nicol-s-maduro-moros-and-14-current-and-former-venezuelan-officials-charged-narco-terrorism|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2020, a report documented [[enforced disappearance]]s that occurred in 2018–19. 724 enforced disappearances of [[Political prisoner|political detainees]] were reported. The report stated that security forces subjected victims to [[Torture in Venezuela|torture]]. The report stated the government used enforced disappearances to silence opponents and other critical voices.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Turkewitz|first1=Julie |last2=Kurmanaev|first2=Anatoly|date=19 June 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/world/americas/venezuela-forced-disappearances-Maduro.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619092846/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/world/americas/venezuela-forced-disappearances-Maduro.html |archive-date=19 June 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=A Knock, Then Gone: Venezuela Secretly Detains Hundreds to Silence Critics |work=The New York Times |access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://rfkhumanrights.org/work/protecting-human-rights/latin-america/venezuela/enforced-disappearance-tool-political-repression-venezuela |title=Enforced Disappearance Tool Political Repression Venezuela |date=2020<!--"May 31, 2020, the date of this report's finalization"--> |publisher=[[Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights]] |access-date=1 October 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929163833/https://rfkhumanrights.org/work/protecting-human-rights/latin-america/venezuela/enforced-disappearance-tool-political-repression-venezuela |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Protestas en Caracas contra la reelección de Nicolás Maduro, 2024.jpg|thumb|Protesters in Caracas fighting against the public forces during the [[2024 Venezuelan protests]]]]
[[Nicolás Maduro|Maduro]] ran for a third consecutive term in the [[2024 Venezuelan presidential election|2024 presidential election]], while former diplomat [[Edmundo González Urrutia]] represented the [[Unitary Platform]] ({{langx|es|Plataforma Unitaria Democrática}}; PUD), the main opposition political alliance.<ref name= MCM>{{cite news |title=Líder da oposição nas pesquisas, María Corina Machado é inabilitada por 15 anos na Venezuela |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2023/06/lider-da-oposicao-nas-pesquisas-maria-corina-machado-e-inabilitada-por-15-anos-na-venezuela.ghtml |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=O Globo |date=30 June 2023 |language=pt-br |archive-date=23 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823215933/https://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2023/06/lider-da-oposicao-nas-pesquisas-maria-corina-machado-e-inabilitada-por-15-anos-na-venezuela.ghtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Venezuela's Supreme Court disqualifies opposition leader from running for president |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/01/27/venezuela-s-supreme-court-disqualifies-opposition-leader-from-running-for-president_6469941_4.html |access-date=31 July 2024 |date=27 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=23 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823215931/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/01/27/venezuela-s-supreme-court-disqualifies-opposition-leader-from-running-for-president_6469941_4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Polls conducted before the election indicated that González would win by a wide margin. After the government-controlled [[National Electoral Council (Venezuela)|National Electoral Council]] (CNE) announced partial results showing a narrow Maduro victory on 29 July, [[International reactions to the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election|world leaders predominantly expressed skepticism of the claimed results]] and did not recognize the CNE claims<ref name= HardtoBelieve>{{cite news |first= Sam |last= Jones |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/29/venezuela-election-result-suspicion-abroad-nicolas-maduro |title= 'Hard to believe': Venezuela election result met with suspicion abroad |work= The Guardian |date= 29 July 2024 |access-date= 29 July 2024 |archive-date= 23 August 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240823215932/https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/29/venezuela-election-result-suspicion-abroad-nicolas-maduro |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=reuters29jul>{{cite web |title=Leaders across Americas react to Venezuela election results |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/latin-american-leaders-react-venezuela-election-results-2024-07-29/ |website=Reuters |access-date=29 July 2024}}</ref> with only some exceptions.<ref name= WorldLeadersCast>{{cite news |first1= Samantha |last1= Schmidt |first2= Leo |last2= Sands |first3= Vanessa |last3= Herrero |title= World leaders cast doubt on Maduro's claim of victory in Venezuelan election |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/29/venezuela-presidential-election-result-maduro/ |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= 29 July 2024 |access-date= 29 July 2024 |archive-date= 29 July 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240729215316/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/29/venezuela-presidential-election-result-maduro/ |url-status= live }}</ref> Both González and Maduro proclaimed themselves winners of the election. The results of the election were not recognized by the [[Carter Center]] and [[Organization of American States]] due to the lack of granular results, and disputed by the opposition, which claimed a landslide victory and released access to vote tallies collected by [[poll watchers]] from a majority of polling centers as proof.<ref name="OAS_report_VE_pres_elec_DECO">

{{cite web |title= Informe del Departamento para la Cooperación y Observación Electoral (DECO) de la Secretaría para el Fortalecimiento de la Democracia de la OEA sobre la elección presidencial de Venezuela para el Secretario General Luis Almagro |language= es |publisher= Organization of American States |date= 30 July 2024 |trans-title= Report of the Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) of the Secretariat for the Strengthening of Democracy of the OAS on the presidential election of Venezuela for the Secretary General Luis Almagro|url= https://www.oas.org/fpdb/press/Informe-al-SG-sobre-Elecciones-Venezuela-2024-30-de-julio-para-distribuir-(1).pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240730170718/https://www.oas.org/fpdb/press/Informe-al-SG-sobre-Elecciones-Venezuela-2024-30-de-julio-para-distribuir-(1).pdf |archive-date= 30 July 2024 |access-date= 10 August 2024 |id= Wikidata [[:d:Q128129159]] }}</ref><ref name="opposition_results_website">{{Cite web|url=https://resultadospresidencialesvenezuela2024.com/|title=Informacion de Centros y mesas de votacion|website=resultadospresidencialesvenezuela2024.com|access-date=11 August 2024|archive-date=7 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807014959/https://resultadospresidencialesvenezuela2024.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LaPatilla_how2access_electoral_records">{{cite web|url=https://www.lapatilla.com/2024/07/30/como-acceder-a-la-pagina-web-para-verificar-las-actas-electorales-que-maduro-bloqueo-en-venezuela/|title=Cómo acceder a la página web para verificar las actas electorales que Maduro bloqueó en Venezuela|work=[[La Patilla]]|date=30 July 2024|language=es|access-date=11 August 2024|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816211936/https://www.lapatilla.com/2024/07/30/como-acceder-a-la-pagina-web-para-verificar-las-actas-electorales-que-maduro-bloqueo-en-venezuela/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WSJElectionDatabase>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/venezuelas-opposition-releases-election-database-claims-big-victory-over-strongman-maduro-fee5bc0c|work=The Wall Street Journal|url-access=subscription|date=30 July 2024|access-date=30 July 2024|title=Venezuela's Opposition Releases Election Database; Claims Big Victory Over Strongman Maduro|first1=Kejal|last1=Vyas|first2=Ryan|last2=Dubé|archive-date=30 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730205829/https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/venezuelas-opposition-releases-election-database-claims-big-victory-over-strongman-maduro-fee5bc0c|url-status=live|quote=The Venezuelan opposition has moved to show concrete evidence that the election was stolen. ... The opposition said it had collected data from 73% of the country's voting stations on its own and compiled it in a publicly accessible database on Tuesday. Using their national identification, Venezuelans can sign in and review a scanned tally sheet from their voting station showing how many votes went to each candidate. ... 'I found mine, the proof is there,' said Celina Ramirez, an opposition supporter who said she was able to log into the website to locate the tally sheet from her east Caracas voting center, which she said showed González receiving the lion's share of votes. 'There's no way the regime can fool everyone with their tricks,' she added ... The Carter Center, one of the few international organizations invited to monitor the elections, has urged Venezuela's government to release comprehensive polling data at the local level, which is needed to assess the electoral process. ...The opposition hopes the release of the database will increase pressure on Maduro's autocratic regime to make public the detailed results of the election.}} Also available from [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/venezuela-s-maduro-moves-to-silence-opposition-after-disputed-election/ar-BB1qTSWi MSN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823220053/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/venezuela-s-maduro-moves-to-silence-opposition-after-disputed-election/ar-BB1qTSWi |date=23 August 2024 }}.</ref>

In the [[2024 Venezuelan presidential election#Aftermath|aftermath]] of the announcement of results by the election authorities, [[2024 Venezuelan protests|protests broke out across the country]].