The following lists events in the year 2021 in

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

Incumbents

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Nicolás Maduro Nicolás Maduro Moros (; born 23 November 1962) is a Venezuelan politician and former union leader serving as the 53rd president of Venezuela since 2013. Previously, he was the 24th Vice President of Venezuela, vice president from 2012 to 20 ...

Juan Guaidó Juan Gerardo Antonio Guaidó Márquez (born 28 July 1983) is a Venezuelan politician and opposition figure. He belonged to the social-democratic party Popular Will, and was a federal deputy to the National Assembly representing the state of V ...

( presidential crisis) *

Vice President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

Delcy Rodríguez Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez (born 18 May 1969) is a Venezuelan lawyer, diplomat, and politician who has served as the vice president of Venezuela since 2018. Rodríguez has held several positions during the presidencies of Hugo Chávez and ...

Governors

* Amazonas: Miguel Rodríguez *

Anzoátegui Anzoátegui State (, ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela, states of Venezuela, located in the northeastern region of the country. Anzoátegui is well known for its beaches that attract many visitors. Its coast consists of a single beach approx ...

: Antonio Barreto Sira *

Apure Apure State (, ) is one of the 23 States of Venezuela, states of Venezuela. Its territory formed part of the provinces of Mérida (state), Mérida, Maracaibo, and Barinas (state), Barinas, in accordance with successive territorial ordinations ...

Ramón Carrizales Ramón Alonso Carrizales Rengifo (born 8 November 1952) is a Venezuelan politician who was the vice president of Venezuela from January 2008 to January 2010. Carrizales was a Colonel of the Venezuelan Armed Forces (retired in 1994) and was educat ...

Aragua Aragua State (, ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It is located in the north-central region of Venezuela. It has plains, jungles and Caribbean beaches. The most popular beaches are Cata and Choroni. It has Venezuela's first national par ...

: Rodolfo Clemente Marco Torres and Daniela González * Barinas:

Argenis Chávez Argenis Chávez Frías (born 3 July 1958) is a Venezuelan politician who served as Governor of Barinas state from 2016 to 2021. He is one of the brothers of the former Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez. He was secretary of the Barinas state ...

* Bolívar:

Justo Noguera Pietri Justo Noguera Pietri (born 15 March 1961) is a Venezuelan politician who served as the governor of Bolívar. He was appointed as state governor by the National Electoral Council and served from October 2017 to November 2021. Early life and e ...

Carabobo Carabobo State (, ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela, located in the north of the country, about two hours by car from Caracas. The state capital city is Valencia, which is also the country's main industrial center. The state's area is and ...

Rafael Lacava Rafael may refer to: * Rafael (given name) or Raphael, a name of Hebrew origin * Rafael, California Fiction * ''Rafael'' (TV series), a Mexican telenovela * ''Rafaël'' (film), a 2018 Dutch film People * Rafael (footballer, born 1978) ( ...

* Cojedes: Margaud Godoy *

Delta Amacuro Delta Amacuro State (, ) is one of the 23 States of Venezuela, states of Venezuela, and is the location of the Orinoco Delta. The Paria Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean are found to the north, Bolívar State (Venezuela), Bolívar State is found to th ...

: Lizeta Hernández *

Falcón Falcón State (, ) is one of the 23 States of Venezuela, states of Venezuela. The state capital is Coro, Venezuela, Coro. The state was named after Juan Crisóstomo Falcón. History Early history Present day Falcón State was first explored ...

Víctor Clark Víctor is a Spanish masculine given name, equivalent to Victor in English and Vítor in Portuguese. Notable people with the given name include: * Víctor Barrio (1987–2016), Spanish bullfighter * Víctor Cabrera (Argentine footballer) * Víct ...

Guárico Guárico State (, ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Juan de Los Morros and the largest city is Calabozo, other important city centers include Valle de la Pascua and Zaraza. Guárico State covers a total surface ...

José Manuel Vásquez José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , ...

Lara Lara may refer to: People * Lara (name), can be a given name or a surname in several languages * Lara (mythology), a naiad nymph, daughter of the river Almo in Ovid's ''Fasti'' Places *Lara (state), a state in Venezuela * Electoral district ...

: Adolfo Pereira Antique * Mérida: Ramón Guevara * Miranda: Héctor Rodríguez *

Monagas Monagas State (, ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. Monagas State covers a total surface area of and, as of the 2011 census, had a population of 905,443. Monagas State is surrounded by Sucre State in the north, Anzoátegui State in the ...

: Yelitza Santaella and Cosme Arzolay *

Nueva Esparta The Nueva Esparta State (in Spanish: ''Estado Nueva Esparta'', ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela, states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, Venezuela, Coche, and the lightly inhabited Cubagua. The state is located off the ...

Alfredo Díaz Alfredo (, ) is a cognate of the Anglo-Saxon name Alfred and a common Italian, Galician, Portuguese and Spanish language personal name. Given name Artists and musicians * Aldo Sambrell (1931–2010), Spanish actor also known as Alfredo S ...

* Portuguesa: Rafael Calles *

Sucre Sucre (; ) is the ''de jure'' capital city of Bolivia, the capital of the Chuquisaca Department and the sixth most populous city in Bolivia. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of . This relatively high ...

: Edwin Rojas *

Táchira Táchira State (, ) is one of the 23 States of Venezuela, states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Cristóbal, Táchira, San Cristóbal. Táchira State covers a total surface area of and as of the 2011 census, had a population of 1,168,9 ...

Laidy Gómez Laidy Yorveys Gómez Flórez (born 12 December 1981) is a Venezuelan politician, a member of Democratic Action and a former governor of Táchira. Gómez was born in Rubio, Junín Municipality, Táchira, Venezuela, and became the governor ...

* Trujillo:

Henry Rangel Silva Henry de Jesús Rangel Silva (born 1961) is the current governor of Trujillo, Venezuela. A military general and former Minister of Defense, noticias24.com, 17 January 2012Perfil: Henry Rangel Silva, el nuevo ministro de la Defensa Rangel Silva wa ...

* Vargas: José Manuel Suárez *

Yaracuy Yaracuy (, ;) is one of the 23 States of Venezuela, states of Venezuela. Yaracuy is located in the Central-Western Region, Venezuela. It is bordered by Falcón State, Falcón in the north, in the west by Lara State, Lara, in the south by Portug ...

Julio León Heredia Julio is the Spanish equivalent of the month July and may refer to: *Julio (given name) *Julio (surname) *Júlio de Castilhos, a municipality of the western part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil * ''Julio'' (album), a 1983 compilation albu ...

Zulia Zulia State (, ; Wayuu: ''Mma’ipakat Suuria'') is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Maracaibo. As of the 2011 census, it has a population of 3,704,404, the largest population among Venezuela's states. It is also one of t ...

: Omar Prieto

Events

January and February

* January 6 ** The

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

(EU) no longer recognizes Juan Guaidó as head of government. They also do not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro. The United States and the United Kingdom still recognize Guaidó. ** The Venezuelan government said it "expresses its concern with the

acts of violence ''Acts of Violence'' is a 2018 American action thriller film directed by Brett Donowho, starring Bruce Willis, Cole Hauser, Shawn Ashmore, Ashton Holmes, Melissa Bolona, Sophia Bush, and Mike Epps. It was written by Nicolas Aaron Mezzanat ...

that are taking

lace Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is split into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted o ...

in the city of Washington, United States." * January 7 – An Iranian ship arrives at the port of

La Guaira La Guaira () is the capital city of the Venezuelan Vargas (state), state of the same name (formerly named Vargas) and the country's main port, founded in 1577 as an outlet for nearby Caracas. The city hosts its own professional baseball team i ...

in defiance of a boycott by the United States. * January 8 – La Vega raid * January 17 – COVID-19 pandemic: Six trucks carrying 136,000 liters of oxygen (14,000 individual canisters) set off for

Manaus Manaus () is the List of capitals of subdivisions of Brazil, capital and largest city of the States of Brazil, Brazilian state of Amazonas (Brazilian state), Amazonas. It is the List of largest cities in Brazil, seventh-largest city in Brazil, w ...

, Amazonas, Brazil. * January 19 ** U.S. President

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

protects Venezuelan citizens living in the U.S. from

deportation Deportation is the expulsion of a person or group of people by a state from its sovereign territory. The actual definition changes depending on the place and context, and it also changes over time. A person who has been deported or is under sen ...

for 18 months. **

Antony Blinken Antony John Blinken (born April 16, 1962) is an American lawyer and diplomat who served as the 71st United States secretary of state from 2021 to 2025. He previously served as Deputy National Security Advisor, deputy national security advisor ...

, President-elect

Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...

United States Secretary of State The United States secretary of state (SecState) is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The secretary of state serves as the principal advisor to the ...

, says that the U.S. will continue to recognize

as legitimate president of Venezuela. * January 21 – The

European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...

votes 391 votes in favor, 114 against, and 177 abstentions on a non-binding resolution calling on EU governments to recognize Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's interim president. * January 29 – Some banks issue

debit card A debit card, also known as a check card or bank card, is a payment card that can be used in place of cash to make purchases. The card usually consists of the bank's name, a card number, the cardholder's name, and an expiration date, on either ...

s in U.S. dollars as a remedy for

hyperinflation In economics, hyperinflation is a very high and typically accelerating inflation. It quickly erodes the real versus nominal value (economics), real value of the local currency, as the prices of all goods increase. This causes people to minimiz ...

. * February 11 – The

United States Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a United States federal executive departments, federal executive department of the U.S. government that oversees the domestic enforcement of Law of the Unite ...

(DOJ) reveals that in 2020 it sold 1.2 million

barrels A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids ...

of Iranian oil destined for Venezuela to compensate victims of

state-sponsored terrorism State-sponsored terrorism is terrorist violence carried out with the active support of national governments provided to violent non-state actors. It contrasts with '' state terrorism'', which is carried out directly by state actors. States can ...

. * February 13 – Twelve

Pemon The Pemon or Pemón (Pemong) are Indigenous people living in areas of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana.See pp.112,113 and 178 of ''Venezuela: the Pemon'', in '' Condé Nast Traveler'', December 2008. The Pemon people are divided into many dialects ...

men arrested in 2020 in relation to an attack on a military base in Kumarakapay, Bolívar state, are released. * February 19 – Maduro offers to sell

natural gas Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...

to Mexico following a shortage related to the

February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm The February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm was a crippling winter storm, winter and ice storm that had widespread impacts across the United States, Northern Mexico, and parts of Canada from February 13 to 17, 2021. The storm, unoff ...

. * February 21 – Two paramilitary groups, ''Autodefensas Gaitanistas del Cartel del Golfo'' and ''Los Rastrojos'' join forces against the

Venezuelan Army The Bolivarian Army of Venezuela (), is the land arm of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela. Also known as Bolivarian Army (''Ejército Bolivariano'', EB), its role is to be responsible for land-based operations against external o ...

(ELN) in

. * February 22 – The EU adds 19 officials to its list of 55 who have been sanctioned for undermining democracy or rights violations. * February 24 – Venezuela expels Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, EU ambassador to Venezuela.

March and April

* March 6 ** The government issues three new bills, worth 200,000, 500,000, and 1,000,000 bolivars. The last is worth US$0.52. ** President Maduro and First Lady

Cilia Flores Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro (born 15 October 1956) is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician. She is married to the President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro, making her the First Lady. Since 2015, she has also been a deputy in the National Assembly ...

receive their first doses of Russia's

Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V (, the brand name from the Russian Direct Investment Fund or RDIF) or Gam-COVID-Vac (, the name under which it is legally registered and produced) is an Adenoviridae, adenovirus viral vector vaccine COVID-19 vaccine, for COVID-19 de ...

. The country has received 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine since February 13 and 500,000 doses of China's Sinopharm BIBP vaccine, which arrived this week. The country reports 141,356 cases of COVID-19 and 1,371 deaths, although critics say the actual numbers are much higher. * March 8 ** The

Biden administration Joe Biden's tenure as the List of presidents of the United States, 46th president of the United States began with Inauguration of Joe Biden, his inauguration on January 20, 2021, and ended on January 20, 2025. Biden, a member of the Democr ...

grants temporary protected status to 320,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S. This is more encompassing than the deferred deportation temporarily offered to 145,000 Venezuelans by Trump. ** Ana Rosario Contreras, human rights activist and nurse, is awarded the

International Women of Courage Award The International Women of Courage Award, also referred to as the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award, is an American award presented annually by the United States Department of State to women around the world who have ...

. * March 21 – 2021 Apure clashes: Fighting between FARC and Venezuelan security forces. * March 27 –

Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...

freezes President Maduro's account for thirty days after spreading false information about a COVID-19 miracle cure. * March 28 –

confirms he has tested positive for COVID-19. * April 20 – With over 32.3% of Venezuelans food insecure, the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

World Food Programme The World Food Programme (WFP) is an international organization within the United Nations that provides food assistance worldwide. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school meals. Founded in 1961 ...

(WFP) gains permission from the Government of Venezuela to feed over 185,000 students by the end of 2021 and 1.5 million students by end of the 2022–2023 school year through nutritious school meals.

Deaths

January and February

* 3 January – Salvador Franco, Indigenous rights leader; died in prison, tuberculosis. * 8 January – Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje Pérez, 69, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Trujillo (since 2012); COVID-19. * 16 January –

Pedro Trebbau Pedro Trebbau (born Karl Peter Trebbau Millowitsch; 20 May 1929 – 16 January 2021) was a German-born Venezuelan zoologist. His career was characterized by the promotion and preservation of Venezuelan wildlife and nature. His research and colla ...

, 91, German-born Venezuelan zoologist. * 18 January – Henrique Salas Albornoz, 68, urologist; COVID-19. * 31 January –

Douglas Bravo Douglas Ignacio Bravo Mora (11 March 1932 – 31 January 2021) was a Venezuelan politician and guerrilla fighter. Biography A native of the village of Cabure in Falcón, he became involved in the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) at an early a ...

, 88, guerrilla fighter ( FALN), COVID-19. * 2 February – Pastor Heydra, journalist and politician; complications from COVID-19. * 9 February –

José Luis Zambrano Padauy José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''J ...

, 49, journalist; COVID-19. * 15 February – Luis Hidalgo, mayor of

Boconó Boconó is a city in the Venezuelan Andes, Andean state of Trujillo (state), Trujillo. Founded in 1560, this city is the County seat, shire town of the Boconó Municipality and, according to the 2001 Venezuelan census, the municipality has a popu ...

(PSUV), Trujillo; COVID-19.

March and April

* 13 March – Daniela Figueredo, 19, detainee, gunshot. * 20 March – Rito Jiménez, 70, politician,

deputy Deputy or depute may refer to: * Steward (office) * Khalifa, an Arabic title that can signify "deputy" * Deputy (legislator), a legislator in many countries and regions, including: ** A member of a Chamber of Deputies, for example in Italy, Spain, ...

(since 2020); COVID-19. * 25 March – Gladys Castillo, 98, pediatrician,

First Lady of Venezuela First Lady of Venezuela (Spanish: ''Primera Dama de Venezuela'') is the unofficial title traditionally held by the wife of the president of Venezuela. List of first ladies Non-spouse first ladies See also * First Lady * Venezuela * List o ...

(1984–1988). * 31 March – Gloria Lizárraga de Capriles, 76, politician, first mayor of the

Baruta Baruta (pop. 317,288) is a municipality within the Metropolitan District of Caracas in Venezuela. Geography Baruta is located geographically in the South-East section of the city. Its western limit is the '' Los Chaguaramos'' neighborhood ( ...

. * 5 April – Henry Stephen, 79, singer; complications from COVID-19. * 9 April ** Daniel Benítez, 33, footballer (

Deportivo Táchira ''Deportivo'' (Spanish, 'sporting') may refer to: * Deportivo de La Coruña, commonly known as simply Deportivo, a Spanish football club * Déportivo, a French rock band * Deportivo (Mexicable) Mexicable is an aerial lift line in Ecatepec de ...

Deportivo La Guaira Deportivo La Guaira (formerly known as Real Esppor) is a professional football club promoted to the Venezuelan league in 2009, based in La Guaira but playing its home games in Caracas at the Estadio Olímpico de la UCV. History Real Esppor The ...

); cancer. ** Helímenas de Jesús Rojo Paredes, 94, Roman Catholic prelate, bishop (1980–1995) and archbishop (1995–2001) of

Calabozo Calabozo, officially Villa de Todos los Santos de Calabozo, is a city in Venezuela located in Guárico state, capital of the Francisco de Miranda Municipality and former capital of the state. It has a population of 168,605, according to the Nat ...

. ** Tulio Manuel Chirivella Varela, 88, Roman Catholic prelate, bishop of

Margarita A margarita is a cocktail consisting of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Some margarita recipes include simple syrup as well and are often served with salt on the rim of the glass. Margaritas can be served either shaken with ice (on the rock ...

(1974–1982) and archbishop of

Barquisimeto Barquisimeto (; ) is a city in Venezuela. Barquisimeto is located in the Central-Western Region, Venezuela. It is the capital of the state of Lara (state), Lara and head of Iribarren Municipality. It is an important urban, industrial, commercial a ...

(1982–2007); COVID-19.

May and June

* 18 May – Yolanda Tortolero, politician,

; complications from COVID-19

July and August

* 1 August – Rossana Ordóñez, 70, journalist,

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of ...

Media

* ''

La última pieza La última pieza (, ) is a 2021 short film directed by Venezuelan filmmaker Ricardo Muñoz Senior. The film is a dystopian fiction that is inspired and satirizes Latin American socialist governments. Plot A working-class man must face a hostil ...

'', directed by Ricardo Muñoz Senior.

References

External links

NY Democrat's ties to Maduro may help Biden unlock stalemate (by JOSHUA GOODMAN, Associated Press, January 13, 2021)
{{Latin America topic, 2021 in

2020s in Venezuela Years of the 21st century in Venezuela