Editing Venezuela (section)

== History ==
{{Main|History of Venezuela}}

===Pre-Columbian history===
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Evidence exists of human habitation in the area now known as Venezuela from about 15,000 years ago. Tools have been found on the high [[River terraces (tectonic–climatic interaction)|riverine terraces]] of the [[Pedregal River|Rio Pedregal]] in western Venezuela.{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=91}} [[Late Pleistocene]] hunting artifacts, including spear tips, have been found at a similar series of sites in northwestern Venezuela; according to [[radiocarbon dating]], these date from 13,000 to 7,000 BC.{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=172}}

It is unknown how many people lived in Venezuela before the Spanish conquest; it has been estimated at one million.{{sfn|Wunder|2003|p=130}} In addition to Indigenous peoples known today, the population included groups such as the [[Kalina people|Kalina]] (Caribs), [[Auaké people|Auaké]], [[Caquetio]], [[Mariche]], and [[Timoto–Cuica people|Timoto–Cuicas]]. The Timoto–Cuica culture was the most complex society in Pre-Columbian Venezuela, with pre-planned permanent villages, surrounded by irrigated, terraced fields.{{sfn|Mahoney|p=89}} Their houses were made of stone and wood with thatched roofs. They were peaceful and depended on growing crops. Regional crops included potatoes and [[ulluco]]s.<ref name=art>[http://en.amigosprecolombino.es/cultures/central-america-and-intermedia/venezuela "Venezuela".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904200841/http://en.amigosprecolombino.es/cultures/central-america-and-intermedia/venezuela |date=4 September 2011}} ''Friends of the Pre-Columbian Art Museum''. (retrieved 9 July 2011)</ref> They left behind art, particularly anthropomorphic ceramics, but no major monuments. They spun vegetable fibers to weave into textiles and mats for housing. They are credited with having invented the [[arepa]], a staple in [[Venezuelan cuisine]].{{sfn|Salas|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=6-1QnKS6xG4C&pg=PA142 142]}}

After the conquest, the population dropped markedly, mainly through the spread of infectious diseases from Europe.{{sfn|Wunder|2003|p=130}} Two main north–south axes of pre-Columbian population were present, who cultivated maize in the west and [[manioc]] in the east.{{sfn|Wunder|2003|p=130}} Large parts of the ''[[llanos]]'' were cultivated through a combination of [[slash and burn]] and permanent settled agriculture.{{sfn|Wunder|2003|p=130}}

=== Colonization ===
{{Main|Spanish colonization of the Americas|German colonization of the Americas|Colonial Venezuela}}
[[File:Musterung-Welser-Armada.png|thumb|''The German [[Welser]] Armada exploring Venezuela'', German Welsers ruled Venezuela from 1528 to 1546, before it was retaken by the Spanish Empire. Painting of 1560 by Hieronymus Köler.]]
In 1498, during his third voyage to the Americas, [[Christopher Columbus]] sailed near the [[Orinoco Delta]] and landed in the [[Gulf of Paria]].{{sfn|Dickey|1892|p=103}} Amazed by the great offshore current of freshwater which deflected his course eastward, Columbus expressed in a letter to Isabella and Ferdinand that he must have reached Heaven on Earth (terrestrial paradise):
{{blockquote|Great signs are these of the Terrestrial Paradise... for I have never read or heard of such a large quantity of fresh water being inside and in such close proximity to salt water; the very mild temperateness also corroborates this; and if the water of which I speak does not proceed from Paradise then it is an even greater marvel, because I do not believe such a large and deep river has ever been known to exist in this world.{{sfn|Zamora|1993|loc=Voyage to Paradise}}}}

[[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spain's colonization of mainland Venezuela]] started in 1522, establishing its first permanent South American settlement in the {{As of |2008 |alt=present-day}} city of [[Cumaná]].

==== German colonization ====
In the 16th century, the king of Spain granted a concession to the German [[Welser family]]. [[Klein-Venedig]]{{Refn|"Little Venice"; additionally the etymology of the name "Venezuela"}} became the most extensive initiative in the [[German colonization of the Americas]] from 1528 to 1546. The Welsers were bankers to the Habsburgs and financiers of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], [[Holy Roman Emperor]], who was King of Spain and had borrowed heavily from them to pay bribes for his [[Imperial election, 1519|Imperial election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cachero |first=Montserrat |title=The Court and the Jungle: Integrating Narratives of Privilege |url=https://www.academia.edu/24787883 |access-date=4 November 2022 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405075103/https://www.academia.edu/24787883 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1528, Charles V granted the Welsers the right to explore, rule and colonize the territory, as well as to seek the mythical golden town of [[El Dorado]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulrich Zwack |first=Bayerischer Rundfunk |date=5 August 2015 |title=Albtraum von Eldorado: Als die Welser über Venezuela herrschten |url=https://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/land-und-leute/schwaebisches-eldorado-welser-in-venezuela-zwack100.html |language=de |access-date=4 November 2022 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405031832/https://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/land-und-leute/schwaebisches-eldorado-welser-in-venezuela-zwack100.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Routledge Library Editions: World Empires (2021). United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.</ref><ref>South American Explorer. (1979). Perù: South American Explorers, p.27. University of Texas.</ref> The first expedition was led by [[Ambrosius Ehinger]], who established [[Maracaibo]] in 1529. After the deaths of first Ehinger (1533), then [[Nikolaus Federmann]], and [[Georg von Speyer]] (1540), [[Philipp von Hutten]] persisted in exploring the interior. In absence of von Hutten from the capital of the province, the crown of Spain claimed the right to appoint a governor. On Hutten's return to the capital, [[Santa Ana de Coro]], in 1546, the Spanish governor [[Juan de Carvajal]] had Hutten and [[Bartholomeus VI. Welser]] executed. Subsequently, [[Emperor Charles V|Charles V]] revoked Welser's concession. The Welsers transported German miners to the colony, in addition to 4,000 African [[slaves]] to plant [[sugar cane]] plantations. Many German colonists died from tropical diseases, to which they had no [[Immunity (medical)|immunity]], or through wars with the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous inhabitants]].

=== Late 15th century to early 17th century ===
Native ''[[cacique]]s'' (leaders) such as [[Guaicaipuro]] ({{circa|1530–1568}}) and [[Tamanaco]] (died 1573) attempted to resist Spanish incursions, but the newcomers ultimately subdued them.<ref name="UNE">{{cite web |publisher=Universidad Nueva Esparta |url=http://www.une.edu.ve/hatillo/historia.htm |title=Alcaldía del Hatillo: Historia |access-date=10 March 2007 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428111205/http://www.une.edu.ve/hatillo/historia.htm |archive-date=28 April 2006}}</ref>

In the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization, indigenous peoples such as the [[Mariches]], themselves descendants of the Kalina, were converted to [[Roman Catholicism]]. Some resisting tribes or leaders are commemorated in place names, including Caracas, [[Chacao Municipality|Chacao]] and [[Los Teques]]. The early colonial settlements focused on the northern coast,{{sfn|Wunder|2003|p=130}} but in the mid-18th century, the Spanish pushed farther inland along the [[Orinoco River]]. Here, the [[Ye'kuana]] organized resistance in 1775–76.{{sfn|Gott|2005|p=203}}

Spain's eastern Venezuelan settlements were incorporated into [[New Andalusia Province]]. Administered by the [[Royal Audiencia of Santo Domingo]] from the early 16th century, most of Venezuela became part of the [[Viceroyalty of New Granada]] in the early 18th century, and was then reorganized as an autonomous [[Captaincy General of Venezuela|Captaincy General]] starting in 1777. Caracas, founded in the central coastal region in 1567, was well-placed to become a key location, being near the coastal port of [[La Guaira]] and in a valley, in a mountain range, providing defensive strength against [[pirate]]s and a more fertile and healthy climate.{{sfn|Ewell|1984|p=4}}

=== Independence and 19th century ===
{{Main|Venezuelan War of Independence}}
[[File:Simón Bolívar 2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|''El Libertador'', [[Simón Bolívar]]]]

After unsuccessful uprisings, Venezuela, under the leadership of [[Francisco de Miranda]], a Venezuelan marshal who had fought in the [[American Revolution|American]] and [[French Revolution]]s, [[Venezuelan Declaration of Independence|declared independence]] as the [[First Republic of Venezuela]] on 5 July 1811.<ref>{{cite web |last=Minster |first=Christopher |url=http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/independenceinvenezuela/p/10april19venezuela.htm |title=April 19, 1810: Venezuela's Declaration of Independence |publisher=About |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203091911/http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/independenceinvenezuela/p/10april19venezuela.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> This began the [[Venezuelan War of Independence]]. A devastating [[1812 Caracas earthquake]], together with the rebellion of the Venezuelan ''[[llanero]]s'', helped bring down the republic.{{sfn|Chasteen|2001|p=103}} [[Simón Bolívar]], new leader of the independentist forces, launched his [[Admirable Campaign]] in 1813 from [[United Provinces of New Granada|New Granada]], retaking most of the territory and being proclaimed as ''El Libertador'' ("The Liberator"). A [[Second Republic of Venezuela]] was proclaimed on 7 August 1813, but lasted only a few months before being crushed by [[Royalist (Spanish American independence)|royalist]] caudillo [[José Tomás Boves]] and his personal army of ''llaneros''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Left |first=Sarah |title=Simon Bolivar |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/apr/16/netnotes.venezuela |website=The Guardian |date=16 April 2002 |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016050958/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/apr/16/netnotes.venezuela |url-status=live}}</ref>

The end of the [[Peninsular War|French invasion]] of homeland Spain in 1814 allowed a large expeditionary force to come under general [[Pablo Morillo]], with the goal to regain the lost territory in Venezuela and New Granada. As the war reached a stalemate on 1817, Bolívar reestablished the [[Third Republic of Venezuela]] on the territory still controlled by the patriots, mainly in the [[Guayana Province|Guayana]] and [[Llanos]] regions. This republic was short-lived as only two years later, during the [[Congress of Angostura]] of 1819, the union of Venezuela with New Granada was decreed to form the Republic of Colombia. The war continued until full victory and [[sovereignty]] was attained after the [[Battle of Carabobo]] on 24 June 1821.{{sfn|Gregory|1992|pp=89–90}} On 24 July 1823, [[José Prudencio Padilla]] and [[Rafael Urdaneta]] helped seal Venezuelan independence with their victory in the [[Battle of Lake Maracaibo]].<ref name="ciawfb">{{cite web |title=Venezuela |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/venezuela/ |publisher=CIA World Factbook |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531110017/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/venezuela/ |url-status=live}}</ref> New Granada's congress gave Bolívar control of the Granadian army; leading it, he liberated several countries and founded the Republic of Colombia ([[Gran Colombia]]).{{sfn|Gregory|1992|pp=89–90}}

[[File:19 de abril.jpg|thumb|''Revolution of 19 April 1810'', the beginning of Venezuela's independence, by [[Martín Tovar y Tovar]]|alt=]]

Sucre went on to liberate [[Ecuador]] and become the second president of [[Bolivia]]. Venezuela remained part of Gran Colombia until 1830, when a rebellion led by [[José Antonio Páez]] allowed the proclamation of a newly independent Venezuela, on 22 September;<ref>''Langer's Encyclopaedia of World History'', page 854.</ref> Páez became the first president of the new [[State of Venezuela]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab55 |title=History of Venezuela |publisher=History World |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030852/http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab55 |url-status=live}}</ref> Between one-quarter and one-third of Venezuela's population was lost during these two decades of war (including about half the [[Venezuelans of European descent]]),<ref>{{cite book |last1=McFarlane |first1=Anthony |title=War and Independence In Spanish America |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-75772-3 |page=293 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSNrAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA293 |access-date=18 February 2019 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129032013/https://books.google.com/books?id=rSNrAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA293#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live}}</ref> which by 1830, was estimated at 800,000.<ref name="Caudillismo">"[http://countrystudies.us/venezuela/5.htm Venezuela – The Century of Caudillismo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805013226/http://countrystudies.us/venezuela/5.htm |date=5 August 2011}}". [[Library of Congress Country Studies]].</ref> In the [[Flag of Venezuela]], the yellow stands for land wealth, the blue for the sea that separates Venezuela from Spain, and the red for the blood shed by the heroes of independence.<ref>{{cite news |title=200 años como símbolo de soberanía |publisher=Consulado General de Venezuela en Canarias |url=http://www.consuladodevenezuela.es/contenido.php?idNot=216 |access-date=30 November 2010 |language=es |archive-date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917045840/http://consuladodevenezuela.es/contenido.php?idNot=216 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Slavery]] in Venezuela was abolished in 1854.<ref name="Caudillismo" /> Much of Venezuela's 19th-century history was characterized by political turmoil and dictatorial rule, including the Independence leader José Antonio Páez, who gained the presidency three times and served 11 years between 1830 and 1863. This culminated in the [[Federal War]] (1859–63). In the latter half of the century, [[Antonio Guzmán Blanco]], another ''caudillo'', served 13 years, between 1870 and 1887, with three other presidents interspersed.

[[File:Martin Tovar y Tovar 02.jpg|thumb|left|The signing of Venezuela's independence, by [[Martín Tovar y Tovar]]]]

In 1895, a longstanding dispute with Great Britain about the Essequibo territory, which Britain claimed as part of [[British Guiana]] and Venezuela saw as Venezuelan territory, erupted into the [[Venezuela Crisis of 1895]]. The dispute became a diplomatic crisis when Venezuela's lobbyist, [[William Lindsay Scruggs|William L. Scruggs]], sought to argue that British behavior over the issue violated the [[United States]]' [[Monroe Doctrine]] of 1823, and used his influence in Washington, D.C., to pursue the matter. Then, U.S. president [[Grover Cleveland]] adopted a broad interpretation of the doctrine that declared an American interest in any matter within the hemisphere.{{sfn|Zakaria|1999|pp=145–146}} Britain ultimately accepted arbitration, but in negotiations over its terms was able to persuade the U.S. on many details. A tribunal convened in Paris in 1898 to decide the issue and in 1899 awarded the bulk of the disputed territory to British Guiana.<ref name="Humphreys">{{cite journal |author-link=Robert Arthur Humphreys |author=Humphreys, R. A. |year=1966 |doi=10.2307/3678723 |title=Anglo-American Rivalries and the Venezuela Crisis of 1895. Presidential Address to the Royal Historical Society |journal=Transactions of the Royal Historical Society |volume=17 |pages=131–164|jstor=3678723 |s2cid=155581308 | issn = 0080-4401 }}</ref>

In 1899, [[Cipriano Castro]], assisted by his friend [[Juan Vicente Gómez]], seized power in Caracas. Castro defaulted on Venezuela's considerable foreign debts and declined to pay compensation to foreigners caught up in Venezuela's [[Venezuelan civil wars|civil wars]]. This led to the [[Venezuela Crisis of 1902–1903]], in which Britain, Germany and Italy imposed a naval blockade before international arbitration at the new [[Permanent Court of Arbitration]] was agreed. In 1908, [[Dutch-Venezuela War|another dispute]] broke out with the Netherlands, which was resolved when Castro left for medical treatment in Germany and was promptly overthrown by [[Juan Vicente Gómez]] (1908–35).

=== 20th century ===
[[File:Rómulo Betancourt, 1961.jpg|thumb|[[Rómulo Betancourt]] (president 1945–1948 / 1959–1964), one of the major democratic leaders of Venezuela]]
The discovery of massive [[oil field|oil deposits]] in Lake Maracaibo during World War I<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume-93/issue-23/in-this-issue/exploration/a-modern-look-at-the-petroleum-geology-of-the-maracaibo-basin-venezuela.html|last1=Stauffer|first1=Karl W.|last2=Croft|first2=Gregory D.|title=A modern look at the petroleum geology of the Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela|journal=Oil & Gas Journal|date=1995|volume=93|issue=23|access-date=3 October 2017|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003230431/http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume-93/issue-23/in-this-issue/exploration/a-modern-look-at-the-petroleum-geology-of-the-maracaibo-basin-venezuela.html|url-status=live}}</ref> proved pivotal for Venezuela and transformed its economy from a heavy dependence on agricultural exports. It prompted a boom that lasted into the 1980s; by 1935, Venezuela's per capita gross domestic product was Latin America's highest.{{sfn|Crow|1980|pp=616–617}} Gómez benefited handsomely from this, as corruption thrived, but at the same time, the new source of income helped him centralize the state and develop its authority.

Gómez remained the most powerful man in Venezuela until his death in 1935. The ''gomecista'' dictatorship (1935–1945) system largely continued under [[Eleazar López Contreras]], but from 1941, under [[Isaías Medina Angarita]], was relaxed. Angarita granted a range of reforms, including the legalization of all political parties. After World War II, immigration from Southern Europe and poorer Latin American countries markedly diversified Venezuelan society.<ref>{{cite journal | pmc=2931359 | year=2010 |author1=DURAND J |author2=MASSEY DS |title=New World Orders: Continuities and Changes in Latin American Migration | journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science | volume=630 | issue=1 | pages=20–52 | doi=10.1177/0002716210368102 | pmid=20814591}}</ref>

In 1945, a civilian-military coup overthrew Medina Angarita and ushered in [[El Trienio Adeco|a period of democratic rule]] (1945–1948) under the mass membership party [[Democratic Action (Venezuela)|Democratic Action]], initially under [[Rómulo Betancourt]], until [[Rómulo Gallegos]] won the [[1947 Venezuelan presidential election]] (the first free and fair elections in Venezuela).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Da Silva P|first=José Luis|date=2013|title=Venezuelan Democracy in the 20th Century. The Struggle Between the Military and the Non–Military|journal=Politeja|volume=10|issue=24|pages=49–68|doi=10.12797/politeja.10.2013.24.05|s2cid=155380658|issn=1733-6716|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Davilaa|first=Luis Ricardo|date=April 2000|title=The rise and fall and rise of populism in Venezuela|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1470-9856.2000.tb00101.x|journal=Bulletin of Latin American Research|volume=19|issue=2|pages=223–238|doi=10.1111/j.1470-9856.2000.tb00101.x|issn=0261-3050|access-date=23 February 2021|archive-date=29 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129031901/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1470-9856.2000.tb00101.x|url-status=live}}</ref> Gallegos governed until overthrown by a military junta led by the triumvirate {{Interlanguage link|Luis Felipe Llovera Páez|es|Luis Llovera Páez}}, [[Marcos Pérez Jiménez]], and Gallegos' Defense Minister, [[Carlos Delgado Chalbaud]], in the [[1948 Venezuelan coup d'état|1948 Venezuelan ''coup d'état'']].

[[File:Carlos Andrés Pérez.jpg|thumb|left|upright|President [[Carlos Andrés Pérez]] was [[impeached]] on corruption charges in 1993.]]
The most powerful man in the military ''junta'' (1948–58) was Pérez Jiménez and he was suspected of being behind the death of Chalbaud, who died in a bungled kidnapping in 1950. When the junta unexpectedly lost the [[1952 Venezuelan presidential election|1952 presidential election]], it ignored the results and Jiménez was installed as president.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} Jiménez was forced out on 23 January 1958.<ref name="ciawfb" /> In an effort to consolidate a young democracy, the three major political parties ([[Acción Democrática]] (AD), [[COPEI]] and [[Unión Republicana Democrática]] (URD), with the notable exception of the [[Communist Party of Venezuela]]), signed the [[Puntofijo Pact]] power-sharing agreement. AD and COPEI dominated the political landscape for four decades.

During the presidencies of [[Rómulo Betancourt]] (1959–64, his second term) and [[Raúl Leoni]] (1964–69), substantial guerilla movements occurred. Most laid down their arms under [[Rafael Caldera]]'s first presidency (1969–74). Caldera had won the [[1968 Venezuelan presidential election|1968 election]] for COPEI, the first time a party other than Democratic Action took the presidency through a democratic election. The new democratic order had its antagonists. Betancourt [[Assassination attempt of Rómulo Betancourt|suffered an attack]] planned by the Dominican dictator [[Rafael Trujillo]] in 1960, and the leftists excluded from the Pact initiated an insurgency by organizing themselves into the Armed Forces of National Liberation, sponsored by the Communist Party and [[Fidel Castro]]. In 1962 they tried to destabilize the military corps, with failed revolts. Betancourt promoted a foreign policy, the [[Betancourt Doctrine]], in which he only recognized elected governments by popular vote.{{Request quotation|date=April 2018}}
[[File:Caracas Sabana Grande 1973.jpg|thumb|[[Sabana Grande, Caracas|Sabana Grande]] district, [[Caracas]] (1973)]]

The [[1973 Venezuelan presidential election]] of [[Carlos Andrés Pérez]] coincided with an [[1973 oil crisis|oil crisis]], in which Venezuela's income exploded as [[oil prices]] soared; oil industries were nationalized in 1976. This led to massive increases in public spending, but also increases in external debts, until the collapse of oil prices during the 1980s crippled the economy. As the government started to devalue the currency in 1983 to face its financial obligations, standards of living fell dramatically. Failed economic policies and increasing corruption in government led to rising poverty and crime, worsening social indicators, and increased political instability.<ref name="Schuyler_2001_10">{{cite journal |last=Schuyler |first=George W. |journal=The Policy Studies Organization |title=Health and Neoliberalism: Venezuela and Cuba |year=2001 |page=10}}</ref>

In the 1980s, the Presidential Commission for State Reform (COPRE) emerged as a mechanism of political innovation. Venezuela decentralized its political system and diversified its economy, reducing the size of the state. COPRE operated as an innovation mechanism, also by incorporating issues into the political agenda, that were excluded from public deliberation by the main actors of the democratic system. The most discussed topics were incorporated into the public agenda: decentralization, political participation, municipalization, judicial order reforms and the role of the state in a new economic strategy. The social reality made the changes difficult to apply.<ref name=":32">{{cite journal|last=Conde|first=Edith Mabel Cuñarro|date=2004|title=Venezuela 1984–1999: 15 años de historia (La Comisión Presidencial para la Reforma del Estado (COPRE) como mecanismo de innovación política)|url=http://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/cuestiones/article/view/14388|journal=Cuestiones Políticas|language=es|volume=20|issn=0798-1406|access-date=8 April 2018|number=33|archive-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409043215/http://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/cuestiones/article/view/14388|url-status=live}}</ref>

Economic crises in the 1980s and 1990s led to a political crisis. Hundreds of people were killed by security forces and the military in the ''[[Caracazo]]'' riots of 1989, during the second presidential term of Carlos Andrés Pérez (1989–1993) and after the implementation of economic austerity measures.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rivero|first=Mirtha|author-link=Mirtha Rivero|title=La Rebelión de los Náufragos|publisher=Editorial Alfa|year=2010|isbn=978-980-354-295-5|location=Caracas, Venezuela|pages=109|chapter=10}}</ref> [[Hugo Chávez]], who in 1982 had promised to depose the bipartisanship governments, used the growing anger at economic austerity measures to justify a [[1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempts|coup attempt in February 1992]];<ref name="Marquez124">{{harvsp|Marquez|2018|p=124}}</ref><ref name="BBCprofile" /> a [[November 1992 Venezuelan coup attempt|second coup d'état attempt occurred in November]].<ref name="BBCprofile">{{cite news |title=Profile: Hugo Chavez |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1925236.stm |access-date=5 June 2007 |work=BBC News |date=5 December 2002 |quote=Mr Chavez first came to prominence in February 1992 when he led an attempt to overthrow the government of President Carlos Andres Perez amid growing anger at economic austerity measures. |archive-date=18 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518212055/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1925236.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> President Carlos Andrés Pérez (re-elected in 1988) was impeached under embezzlement charges in 1993, leading to the interim presidency of [[Ramón José Velásquez]] (1993–1994). Coup leader Chávez [[Rafael Caldera#Amnesty to the 1992 coup participants|was pardoned in March 1994]] by president Rafael Caldera (1994–1999, his second term), with a clean slate and his political rights reinstated, allowing Chávez to win and maintain the presidency continuously from 1999 until his death in 2013. Chávez won the elections of 1998, 2000, 2006 and 2012 and the presidential referendum of 2004.

=== Bolivarian government under Chávez: 1999–2013 ===
{{main|Bolivarian Revolution|History of Venezuela (1999–present)}}
[[File:Chavez Kirch Lula141597.jpg|thumb|Chávez with fellow South American presidents [[Néstor Kirchner]] of Argentina and [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva|Lula da Silva]] of Brazil]]
A collapse in confidence in the existing parties led to [[Hugo Chávez]] being elected president in 1998 and the subsequent launch of a "Bolivarian Revolution", beginning with a 1999 [[constituent assembly]] to write a new Constitution. The Revolution refers to a [[left-wing populism]] [[social movement]] and political process led by Chávez, who founded the [[Fifth Republic Movement]] in 1997 and the [[United Socialist Party of Venezuela]] in 2007. The "Bolivarian Revolution" is named after [[Simón Bolívar]]. According to Chávez and other supporters, the "Bolivarian Revolution" sought to build a mass movement to implement [[Bolivarianism]]—[[popular democracy]], economic independence, equitable distribution of revenues, and an end to political corruption. They interpret Bolívar's ideas from a [[populism|populist]] perspective, using [[Socialism|socialist]] rhetoric. This led to formation of the '''Fifth Republic of Venezuela''', commonly known as the '''Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela''', that continues to the present day. Venezuela has been considered the Bolivarian Republic following the adoption of the new [[Constitution of Venezuela|Constitution of 1999]]. Following Chávez's election, Venezuela developed into a [[dominant-party system]], dominated by the [[United Socialist Party of Venezuela]]. In April 2002, Chávez was briefly ousted from power in the [[2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt]] following popular demonstrations by his opponents,<ref>The coup installed chamber of commerce leader [[Pedro Carmona]].{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1927678.stm |title=Profile: Pedro Carmona |date=27 May 2002 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=6 February 2009 |archive-date=23 September 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130923162952/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1927678.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> but Chavez returned after two days as a result of demonstrations by poor Chávez supporters and actions by the military.{{sfn|Cannon|2004|p=295}}{{sfn|López Maya|2005|p=16}} Chávez remained in power after an all-out national strike that lasted [[Venezuelan general strike of 2002–2003|from December 2002 to February 2003]], including a strike/lockout in the state oil company [[PDVSA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/oilandgas/Minister:_2002-2003_strike_cost_PDVSA_US*12,8bn|title=Minister: 2002–2003 strike cost PDVSA US$12.8bn – BNamericas|date=27 July 2005|access-date=3 October 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004084930/https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/oilandgas/Minister:_2002-2003_strike_cost_PDVSA_US*12,8bn|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Capital flight]] before and during the strike led to the reimposition of [[Foreign exchange controls|currency control]]s. In the subsequent decade, the government was forced into currency devaluations.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/02/2013296490217208.html "Venezuela devalues currency against US dollar"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014041330/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/02/2013296490217208.html |date=14 October 2017}}. Aljazeera.com (9 February 2013). Retrieved on 20 April 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/399ce5c6-751f-11e2-a9f3-00144feabdc0.html "The bill for years of mismanagement is coming due"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411190302/https://www.ft.com/content/399ce5c6-751f-11e2-a9f3-00144feabdc0 |date=11 April 2020}}. Ft.com (12 February 2013). Retrieved on 20 April 2013.</ref><ref name="Economist">[https://www.economist.com/news/americas/21572202-return-hugo-ch%C3%A1vez-his-country-suggests-one-way-or-another-end-venezuelas "Venezuela The homecoming"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701181513/http://www.economist.com/news/americas/21572202-return-hugo-ch%C3%A1vez-his-country-suggests-one-way-or-another-end-venezuelas |date=1 July 2017}}. Economist.com (23 February 2013). Retrieved on 20 April 2013.</ref><ref name="Businessweek">Farzad, Roben. (15 February 2013) [https://web.archive.org/web/20130218115931/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-02-15/venezuelas-double-edged-bolivar-devaluation "Venezuela's Double-Edged Devaluation"]. Businessweek.com. Retrieved on 20 April 2013.</ref> These devaluations did not improve the situation{{Vague|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}} of the people who rely on imported products or locally produced products that depend on imported inputs, while dollar-denominated oil sales account for the majority of exports.<ref>Mander, Benedict. (10 February 2013) [http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/12e9f32e-739e-11e2-9e92-00144feabdc0.html "Venezuelan devaluation sparks panic"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411190248/https://www.ft.com/content/12e9f32e-739e-11e2-9e92-00144feabdc0 |date=11 April 2020}}. Ft.com. Retrieved on 20 April 2013.</ref> The profits of the oil industry have been lost to "social engineering" and corruption, instead of investments needed to maintain oil production.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-07/how-venezuela-came-away-with-no-dollars-from-sales-andes-credit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009111954/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-07/how-venezuela-came-away-with-no-dollars-from-sales-andes-credit.html |archive-date=9 October 2014 |title=How Venezuela Got No Dollars From $65 Billion Bond Sales |last1=Boyd |first1=Sebastian |date=7 October 2014 |work=[[Bloomberg.com]] |access-date=8 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Chávez survived further political tests, including an [[2004 Venezuelan recall referendum|August 2004 recall referendum]]. He was elected for another term [[2006 Venezuelan presidential election|in December 2006]] and for a third term in October 2012. However, he was never sworn in due to medical complications; he died in March 2013.<ref>Neuman, William (5 March 2013) [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/world/americas/as-chavez-worsens-venezuela-expels-two-us-diplomats.html?hp&_r=0 "Chávez Dies, Leaving Sharp Divisions in Venezuela"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129031900/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/world/americas/hugo-chavez-of-venezuela-dies.html |date=29 November 2023}}. New York Times.</ref>

=== 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]].