Delcy Rodríguez Announces General Amnesty Law for Venezuela’s Political Prisoners Since 1999

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez announced a general amnesty law for political prisoners detained since 1999, and Spain welcomed the move while urging it be implemented quickly.

“Venezuela releases another Spaniard imprisoned in Venezuela following the Amnesty announcement; nine others remain imprisoned”

El Mundo

El País said Rodríguez advanced the law at an event in the Supreme Court of Justice, saying the measure would cover the entire period of political violence since 1999 and giving people “a chance to live in peace and tranquility in Venezuela.”

El Mundo

RTVE.es reported that Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation welcomed the announcement and that Foreign Ministry sources said José Manuel Albares held a conversation with Venezuelan foreign minister Yván Gil.

RTVE.es also said Rodríguez’s government intended the amnesty to “serve to repair the wounds left by political confrontation, born from violence and extremism,” and Rodríguez proposed turning El Helicoide, the headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) in Caracas, into a social and sports center.

El País reported that the amnesty could cover “hundreds of political prisoners” jailed during the governments of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, and it said the announcement came almost a month after releases began in “dribs and drabs.”

El País said more than 800 prisoners had been released according to chavismo and 302 according to the prisoners’ advocates, while it also described how released prisoners could remain subject to precautionary measures.

EL PAÍS

RTS.ch said the interim president promulgated a historic amnesty law that covers acts that occurred during thirteen specific periods, and it quoted Delcy Rodríguez telling the Caracas presidential palace, “one must know how to ask for forgiveness.”

RTS.ch added that the text would not benefit those convicted of homicide, drug offenses, and common crimes, and it said the NGO Foro Penal wrote on X that “while the authorities have freed about 450 political prisoners, more than 600 remain behind bars.”

Euractiv said Spain would ask the European Union to lift sanctions against Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez after Caracas approved a limited amnesty for political prisoners, and it quoted José Manuel Albares framing sanctions as pressure rather than an end.

“MADRID – Spain will ask the European Union to lift the sanctions against Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, after Caracas approved a limited amnesty for political prisoners, said Spain's foreign minister ahead of a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels”

Euractiv

Euractiv reported Albares said “Sanctions are never an end in themselves,” but a means of pressure to achieve a goal “to progress, for example, toward the release of political prisoners,” and it said he discussed the issue with the EU’s High Representative, Kaja Kallas.

Le Temps reported that Venezuelan justice granted freedom to 379 political prisoners, and it quoted parliamentarian Jorge Arreaza saying “must be released and amnestied between tonight and tomorrow morning.”

Le Temps also said the amnesty was not automatic, quoting Foro Penal director Alfredo Romero that it was “not automatic,” and it reported Ali Daniels of Acceso a la Justicia saying “The law's record is negative” because it leaves many people out.