The Venezuelan parliament, controlled by chavismo, approved this Thursday the first reading of an urgent amnesty law aimed at pardoning and releasing protesters, government critics, and individuals prosecuted for political offenses since 1999.
The measure, promoted by the interim president Delcy Rodríguez, is presented as a step towards national reconciliation after decades of political conflict, reported Euro News.
According to Infobae, e the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, requested "speed" in the process of consultations and final approval. "We don’t have much time," he cautioned before the deputies, emphasizing that the law must be discussed with all sectors, without exclusions.
According to the approved text, the amnesty includes the immediate release of political prisoners, the termination of ongoing judicial proceedings, the removal of criminal records, and the restitution of seized property to the beneficiaries.
The project could also benefit judges, prosecutors, and officials who have been prosecuted or sanctioned for their actions during cases related to protests or political dissent, depending on the circumstances.
Additionally, arrest warrants, migration alerts, and international notifications are issued, which will facilitate the return of exiles and political persecuted individuals.
The scope of the law is broad: it covers crimes and offenses related to protests, demonstrations, the expression of critical opinions towards public officials, and the dissemination of political messages, including those made through social media.
The text expands its coverage to crimes such as instigation, resistance to authority, rebellion, treason, and illegal possession of weapons, committed within the context of political demonstrations from 1999 to 2026, including protests that occurred in 2007, 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2024.
The measure covers acts committed since 1999, when the Chavista government began in Venezuela.
However, the regulation excludes serious crimes such as crimes against humanity, intentional homicide, human rights violations, drug trafficking, or corruption, in line with international standards that prohibit impunity in these cases.
The proposal has been well received by opposition sectors and families of political prisoners, who view it as an opportunity to close chapters of repression and injustice; however, they warn that it is essential to ensure effective justice and full respect for human rights.
Non-governmental organizations, for their part, have urged that the law does not become an instrument of impunity, especially in documented cases of abuse.
The project, unanimously approved in the first instance, will be subject to parliamentary consultations. According to Chavismo, this amnesty constitutes a "sovereign act of clemency" aimed at healing the political wounds of the country and advancing toward peaceful coexistence.
The parliamentary session took place in a different political climate following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026. Under the interim leadership of Delcy Rodríguez, the Assembly has sought to demonstrate gestures of openness and reconciliation.
The law was approved only in its first reading and must still go through a second discussion and a public consultation before its final enactment, according to the Venezuelan Constitution.
The initiative does not include an acknowledgment of responsibility on the part of the Government. According to United Nations figures, around eight million Venezuelans have emigrated in recent years, amidst a context marked by political, economic, and social crisis.
Venezuelan authorities claim that more than 600 people have been gradually released since January, although organizations such as Foro Penal have only verified the release of 383 detainees and report approximately 700 political prisoners still incarcerated.
The approval of the law coincides with signs of economic stabilization following the recovery of oil exports and the unblocking of funds by the United States to the Central Bank of Venezuela.
Delcy Rodríguez has made progress in energy and financial agreements that, according to the government, aim to facilitate "democratic coexistence" and improve the political climate.
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