thumb|The Corrupt Venezuelan Regime, according to the United States Department of Justice Corruption in Venezuela is high by world standards and was so for much of the 20th century. The discovery of oil worsened political corruption.. "From 1917, greater awareness of the country's oil potential had the pernicious effect of increasing the corruption and intrigue amongst Gomez's family and entourage, the consequences of which would be felt up to 1935." By the late 1970s, Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso's description of oil as "the Devil's excrement" had become a common expression in Venezuela.. "The perception of petroleum as the cause of Venezuela's corruption had become widespread during this period." The Corruption Perceptions Index has ranked Venezuela as one of the most corrupt countries since the survey started in 1995. The 2010 ranking placed Venezuela at number 164, out of 178 ranked countries in government transparency.The truth of Pdval , El Universal, 21 January 2011. By 2016, the rank had increased to 166 out of 178. The World Justice Project ranked Venezuela 99th out of 99 countries surveyed in its 2014 Rule of Law Index.
thumb|the corrupt venezuelan regime according to the united states department of justice corruption in venezuela is high by world standards and was so for much of the 20th century the discovery of oil worsened political corruption "from 1917 greater awareness of the country's oil potential had the pernicious effect of increasing the corruption and intrigue amongst gomez's family and entourage the consequences of which would be felt up to 1935" by the late 1970s juan pablo pérez alfonso's description of oil as "the devil's excrement" had become a common expression in venezuela "the perception of petroleum as the cause of venezuela's corruption had become widespread during this period" the corruption perceptions index has ranked venezuela as one of the most corrupt countries since the survey started in 1995 the 2010 ranking placed venezuela at number 164 out of 178 ranked countries in government transparencythe truth of pdval  el universal 21 january 2011 by 2016 the rank had increased to 166 out of 178 the world justice project ranked venezuela 99th out of 99 countries surveyed in its 2014 rule of law index