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Web application MVC framework for PHP4 and PHP5. Event driven, component based, AJAX compatible. |
| Overview | People | Geography | Economy | Government | Communications | Transport | Military | Map |
| Country | Venezuela |
| Flag |  |
| Capital | name: Caracas geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Population | 26,023,528 (July 2007 est.) |
| GMT | -4 |
| Location | Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana see map |
| Area | total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km |
| Ethnic groups | Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people |
| Religions | nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2% |
| Languages | Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects |
| Government type | federal republic |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 5 July (1811) |
| Constitution | 30 December 1999 |
| Legal system | open, adversarial court system |
| Background | Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, has promoted a controversial policy of "democratic socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples. |
| Internet country code | .ve |
