Venezuela Takes First Step Towards Historic Amnesty Law

On Thursday, February 5, the National Assembly of Venezuela took a significant first step towards the adoption of a historic general amnesty law covering 27 years of Chavista rule under the late President Hugo Chavez. This comes just over a month after the capture of Nicolas Maduro during a U.S. operation.

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

The law "could be the start of a historic phase. We can ensure that Venezuela enters a cycle of mutual recognition, respect, tolerance, agreements, and ultimately, peace," expressed opposition deputy Tomas Guanipa during the debates.

The text approved in the first reading on Thursday will be debated again on Tuesday in the Assembly for its final approval. Promised last Friday by interim president Delcy Rodriguez, the law is expected to facilitate the release of all political prisoners and the dropping of charges against them.

The text addresses crimes such as "terrorism," "treason," or "incitement to hatred," charges frequently used to imprison political dissidents. This "Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence" also aims to lift the ineligibilities imposed on many opposition figures, potentially benefiting the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Corina Machado, who was unable to run in the 2024 presidential elections.