Valenzuela

For the Philippine city, see 

Valenzuela, officially the Federative Republic of Valenzuela (Spanish: República Federativa de Valenzuela), is a country on the northeastern coast of South America, sharing maritime borders with Eastern Caribbean countries in the northwest, Venezuela on the southwest, Guyana on the south, Suriname and French Guiana on the southeast. It has a total land area of 204,601 km2 (78,996 sq mi) with a population of 52.8 million in 2021. The capital, Catalina, and the largest city Ciudad de Expósito are located in the same metropolitan region, Federal Capital District.

The land now known as Valenzuela was colonized by Spain at the same time Venezuela was colonized. Valenzuela gained independence after Gran Colombia dissolved in 1831, but tensions with the Empire of Brazil grew as Brazil claimed to be the legitimate owners of the country's islands. The tensions with Brazil led to the Brazilian-Valenzuelan war which was won by Valenzuela. During the last years of the 19th century, Valenzuela was under a repressive military dictatorship led by Estanislao Molina which lasted from 1872 to 1899 before being overthrown, establishing a democratic government later on. Valenzuela was the poorest country in Latin America between the 1940s and 1960s, with a GDP per capita of only around US$50. The 1967 presidential election saw a big moment where Emigdio Pavía was elected the president, and during his first years saw the start of the Valenzuelan economic miracle and by the end of his term in 1987. Valenzuela already became an economic power, ranking 5th in Latin America in terms of GDP in 1978 then later 2nd in 1998.

Today, Valenzuela ranks second with the most healthiest history of democratic elections, only behind to the Portuguese-Spanish country Integrita. Valenzuela has the third largest nominal GDP in Latin America, and has a very high HDI. When it comes to economic complexity, Valenzuela has the most diverse economy in Latin America, in contrast to it's twin country Venezuela which is extremely dependent on oil. Valenzuela is a charter member of the UN, Organization of American States (OAS), Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Mercosur, Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) and Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), and also an observer of ALBA.

Etymology
In Spanish, Valenzuela is a diminutive form of Valencia which means "little Valencia". It's previous names were the Estado Federal de Valenzuela (1831-1856), Federación Valenzuela (1856-1857), República Federal Popular de Valenzuela (1857-1871), República Federal de Valenzuela (1871-1922), and República de Valenzuela (1922-2001).

Prehistory: 15,000 years ago
Evidence exists of human habitation in the area now known as Valenzuela from about 15,000 years ago. It is not known how many people lived in Valenzuela before the Spanish conquest. In addition to indigenous peoples known today, the population included historical groups such as the Wapishana, Pemon, Akawaio, and Warao.

Colonization: 1522-1819
Spain's colonization of mainland Valenzuela started in 1522, a few months after the Spanish colonization of mainland Venezuela, establishing its second permanent South American settlement in the present-day city of Bosque. In the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization, indigenous peoples such as many of the Pemon converted to Roman Catholicism. Some of the resisting tribes or leaders are commemorated in place names, including Quiñones, Ciudad de Expósito, and Arechavaleta.

Gran Colombian Valenzuela: 1819-1831
After series of failed declarations for Independence, they were later admitted to Gran Colombia led by Simon Bolivar. Valenzuela was the only territory of Gran Colombia to be outside of mainland South America, as the country is located in the northern coast of British Guyana and Dutch Suriname.

Independence, Brazilian-Valenzuelan War, and Molina Era: 1831-1899
Valenzuela declared it's independence on the same day Gran Colombia finally dissolved after almost 12 years. The country's tensions with Brazil grew overtime due to the territorial conflict in the Quijano-Quesada Islands just off the eastern coast of Valenzuela. Brazil and Valenzuela's tensions grew overtime that it led to the 1834-1838 Brazilian-Valenzuelan war, and Valenzuela surprisingly won, taking full ownership to the islands.

In 1872, Estanislao Molina overthrew President Santiago Espinoza establishing a federal military dictatorship that would be dubbed as the 'Molina Era', the darkest era in Valenzuela's history as during the dictatorship, more than 10,000 deaths were the result of political repression. After 27 dark years, Molina was overthrew via coup d'etat led by Amancio Arechavaleta who later became the president.

Contemporary era: since 1899
Valenzuela during the early years of post-Molina Era achieved some degree of political stability, but the country took time to achieve economic stability. By the 1910s, they did achieve economic stability but the country remained very poor.

From the 1940s to the 1960s, Valenzuela was among the poorest countries in the world and the dreams of becoming a first-world country was nearly impossible until statesman Emigdio Pavía of the Li was elected president in 1967. Pavía wanted to duplicate Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's ideas to Valenzuela to achieve the dreams of becoming a first-world country. Pavía achieved the nickname 'Father of the Miracle' after his economic & social programs became extremely successful, with the average growth rate being at 11.6%.

Emigdio Pavía's emphasis on rapid economic growth, support for business entrepreneurship, and limitations on internal democracy shaped Valenzuela's policies for the next half-century. Economic growth continued throughout the 1980s, with the unemployment rate falling to 3% and real GDP growth averaging at about 8% up until 1999. During the 1980s, Valenzuela began to shift towards high-tech industries, such as the wafer fabrication sector, in order to remain competitive as neighbouring countries began manufacturing with cheaper labour. The Valenzuelan Exposito Airport was opened in 1983 and Valenzuela Airlines was formed. The Port of Catalina became one of the world's busiest ports and the service and tourism industries also grew immensely during this period.

Via the Pavía pact, the democratic socialist Liberal Democratic Party, the liberal-conservative New Patriotic Party, and the centrist People's Democratic Alternative, remained power since the declaration of the pact in 1979. In 1987, Juanfran Gutierrez of the New Patriotic Party succeeded Pavía and became Valenzuela's new president after winning the 1987 presidential election. During Gutierrez's 5-year term, the National Assembly approved to amend the constitution by giving the presidency a single five-year term to avoid any consolidation of power.

Under Aníbal Morales' term from 1992 to 1997, Morales maintained the rapid economic growth from the Pavia administration while implementing new social policies and infrastructure. Morales' biggest achievement during his presidency was the first maglev train in South America and in the Americas in general.

Echevarría's term saw a new constitution being implemented on 1 January 2001, and abolishing the bicameral Congress in favour of the unicameral National Assembly. Echevarría was a known vocal opponent of Bolivarianism, which soured Valenzuela and Venezuela's relations. In fact, Hugo Chavez denounced Bonifacio Echevarría on Chavez's television program Aló Presidente.

Fabricio Valencia's presidency was historical, as Valencia was the first president to have Clementina Gaspar as vice president. Gaspar was the first female vice president, and also the youngest vice president, taking office at the age of 37. Valencia's presidency was also where same-sex marriage and reassignment surgery for transgender men and women was officially legalized nationwide.

Under the presidency of Alfredo Sastre, numerous mega-projects were completed, such as the Torres del Triplete de Pavía, the highest triplet towers in South America, the Catalina Education Square, the largest education square in Valenzuela where 4 high schools, 7 libraries, and 2 colleges are located, and the Pavía City, the first eco-friendly city in Valenzuela and is set to become Valenzuela's newest capital by 2035.

The economic miracle that started in Pavía's administration continued in the administration of Ignacio Guadarrama (2012-2017), and Luis Ángel Escamilla (2017-2022). Valenzuela is set to hold it's elections for 2022 on the 7th of May, with the 34 year old student leader Alexandra Sierra set to become the winner of the election.