Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez officially unveiled the country's controversial new flag on 07 March 2006. Parliament approved changes to the 200-year-old design, including the addition of an eighth star to honor the province of Guayana's contribution to independence in the 19th Century. Modifications to the coat of arms portion include changing the direction of the horse's gallop from right to left and adding an African American machete, an indigenous bow and arrow, and typical fruits and flowers. The opposition condemned the new flag as illegitimate, saying there had been no proper consultation. Chavez used the 200th anniversary of Venezuela's first flag to present the new one to the general public.
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