Venezuela's new amnesty law, signed by acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday, has received a lukewarm response from opposition groups, prisoners' rights organisations, and relatives of political detainees. The measure is expected to free hundreds of activists and human rights defenders, but critics argue it falls short of addressing systemic political persecution.
Under the law, trial courts must approve each amnesty request within 15 days. However, Alfredo Romero, president of the prisoners' rights group Foro Penal, expressed scepticism, noting that the same judges and prosecutors who have unjustly accused people will now interpret the law. Foro Penal estimates that over 600 people are held for political reasons.
The amnesty covers crimes committed during politically charged periods since 1999, including the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, which saw over 2,000 arrests. However, it excludes those convicted of human rights violations, war crimes, murder, drug trafficking, or corruption, as well as individuals who supported foreign actions against Venezuela. This could exclude opposition figures like Nobel laureate María Corina Machado.
Magalli Meda, Machado's 2024 campaign manager now in exile, rejected the law on social media, calling it a whitewashing effort. The law allows exiles to apply through a lawyer and offers protection from arrest upon return for court hearings. Since January, the government has already released 448 prisoners, according to Foro Penal.
