Venezuela amnesty bill to come into effect within a week, top lawmaker says News
Venezuela amnesty bill to come into effect within a week, top lawmaker says

The president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, stated on Friday that the general amnesty bill releasing political prisoners from detention will come into effect by February 13 at the latest.

Speaking to family members of political prisoners who are set to be released after the law is passed, Rodríguez said that the bill had been approved on Thursday and that it would definitely be approved during the second reading that is scheduled for next Tuesday. He assured the family members that all of the political prisoners would be released the same day of the reading, which he estimated would occur by Friday, February 13, at the latest.

Rodríguez’s assurances come following the Venezuelan National Assembly’s unanimous approval of the amnesty bill on Thursday. According to Article 207 of the Venezuelan Constitution, a bill must proceed through a second reading before itcan become law, and the president of the National Assembly shall then declare the law sanctioned.

The amnesty bill is titled the Amnesty Bill for Democratic Coexistence. Article 1 of the bill states that its purpose is to “grant a general and full amnesty to all persons who have been prosecuted or convicted for the alleged or proven commission of political or related crimes, from January 1, 1999, to January 30, 2026.” Article 6 of the bill specifies that amnesty applies to events between January 1, 1999, and January 30, 2026. This includes the “coup d’état” on April 11, 2002, and protests that occurred following the 2013 and 2024 presidential elections, among other events.

Article 7 of the bill excludes those who have committed crimes against humanity or war crimes, intentional homicide, drug trafficking, and crimes against public property. The bill also calls for police to halt investigations related to “the acts referred to in this law,” the release of records and files from police archives of those receiving amnesty, and the dismissal of ongoing court proceedings.

Opposition lawmaker Deputy Yusmaro Jiménez welcomed the amnesty law, viewing it as a step forward for peace and national reconciliation. Jiménez said that peace is created through diversity of thought and political tolerance, and that Venezuela needed a new beginning that did not criminalize differing opinions. He emphasized that the amnesty bill is a tool that can close a dark chapter of the nation’s history.

Earlier this year, prior to the United States’ abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores, the Venezuelan government released 88 people who were jailed for protesting the 2024 election.

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