The Venezuelan National Assembly approved on Thursday at first reading a general amnesty text promised by interim President Delcy Rodriguez. The law, which covers 27 years of Chavista power, should allow the release of all political prisoners as well as the dropping of charges against them.

Published on: 05/02/2026 - 23:19

The National Assembly of Venezuela took a first step on Thursday February 5 towards the adoption of a historic general amnesty law covering the 27 years of Chavista power, the doctrine of the late President Hugo Chavez, a little more than a month after the capture of Nicolas Maduro during an American operation.

“A very important event has occurred for Venezuela: the unanimous adoption by all the political forces present in the Assembly at first reading of the amnesty law, which is a law for peace and national reconciliation,” declared Thursday evening the interim president, Delcy Rodriguez.

The law "can be the start of a historic step. We can ensure that Venezuela enters a spiral of mutual recognition, respect, tolerance, agreements and where, in the end, we can find peace", enthused opposition deputy Tomas Guanipa during the debates.

The text approved at first reading on Thursday will be debated again on Tuesday in the Assembly with a view to its final approval. Promised last Friday by Delcy Rodriguez, the law must allow the release of all political prisoners as well as the dropping of charges against them.

The text covers the crimes of "terrorism", "treason" or "incitement to hatred", charges frequently used to imprison political opponents. This “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence” must also lift the ineligibility imposed on many opponents, which could in principle benefit the leader of the opposition and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, who was unable to run in the 2024 presidential election.

“We ask for forgiveness and we must also forgive”

The amnesty should not, however, apply to “serious violations” of human rights committed in 27 years of socialist-inspired government since Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999.

The interim president, who is working with US President Donald Trump on access to Venezuelan oil, is under pressure to end a system of repression that has seen thousands of critics and opponents thrown in prison.

The project underlines “the importance of not imposing vengeance, revenge, nor hatred, but of opening a path towards reconciliation”. Excluded are crimes and offenses such as "serious violations of human rights, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption and drug trafficking."

“We ask for forgiveness and we must also forgive,” declared Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly and brother of Delcy Rodriguez, brandishing a photograph of Hugo Chavez holding a crucifix in his hand: “We ask for forgiveness because, I say it clearly, I do not like (that there are) prisoners.”

Also read: Thousands of supporters of Nicolas Maduro demand his return to Venezuela

“Nicolasito” (“little Nicolas”), the son of deposed president Nicolas Maduro, who is awaiting trial in a New York prison, accused of drug trafficking, declared during the debates “to agree” with the fact that “Venezuela will not tolerate one more revenge”.

“Venezuela must put itself on the right path, with love first, with reconciliation and with consolidated peace, towards the glorious future of development that destiny has prepared for this magnificent land that is Venezuela,” said Nicolas Maduro Guerra.

350 political prisoners released since January

In front of the courthouse, Angel Godoi, 52, a political prisoner released on January 14, insists on total freedom: "In my case, I have to report every 30 days (to the authorities), and I am also prohibited from leaving the country. We were made to understand that we should not make declarations either. However, one of the reasons why we are here is precisely (...) for freedom. In addition to the freedom (of political prisoners), we need of political freedoms, of citizen freedoms, of everything that affects the life of everyone in the country, in compliance with the circumstances established by the Constitution.

Since the beginning of January, some 350 political prisoners have been released, according to the NGO Foro Penal, but nearly 700 still remain incarcerated and dozens of families continue to camp outside the prisons while awaiting the release of their loved ones.

Alfredo Romero, director of Foro Penal, emphasizes that "a process of reconciliation, let's call it transition, must not become a process of persecution against those who previously held power." But “we cannot transform any law, any transition, or any process into a veil of impunity where justice would not be done,” he believes. For him, “justice must prevail”.

With AFP

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