Although the new law was not a prerequisite for the government to free prisoners, the approval marks a reversal for authorities in the South American nation, who for decades have denied holding any political prisoners.
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday signed into law an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of politicians, activists, lawyers and many others who were targeted by Caracas over the past 27 years.
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Although the new law was not a prerequisite for the government to free prisoners, the approval marks a reversal for authorities in the South American nation, who for decades have denied holding any political prisoners.
It is also the latest policy reversal following last month’s stunning US military raid on the country’s capital to capture Nicolás Maduro.
Rodríguez, who proposed the bill late last month, signed the measure into law shortly after it was approved by the country’s legislature.
She said during the signing that it showed that the country’s political leaders were “letting go of a little intolerance and opening new avenues for politics in Venezuela.”
In the days after Maduro’s 3 January capture, Rodríguez’s government announced it would release a significant number of those detained.
Families hoping for the release of their loved ones — some of whom have been gathered outside detention facilities for weeks — say that Rodríguez has failed to deliver on earlier promises to release prisoners.
Furthermore, relatives and human rights watchdogs have criticised the slow pace of releases and the restrictive conditions under which many have been placed after leaving prison.
Some gathered outside detention facilities in Caracas grew impatient as hopes of immediate releases were disappointed Thursday night, retreating to their tents as Christian music played from a loudspeaker.
According to the Organisation for the Rights of Prisoners in Venezuela, Foro Penal has released 448 prisoners since 8 January. According to the group, over 600 people remain detained on political grounds.
Controversy over the amnesty bill
The amnesty bill’s purpose is to grant people “a general and full amnesty for crimes or offenses committed” during specific periods since 1999 that were marked by politically driven conflicts in Venezuela.
This includes “acts of politically motivated violence” in the context of the 2024 presidential election, which was widely recognised as rigged. The aftermath of the vote led to protests and the arrest of more than 2,000 people, including minors.
The debate over the bill was suspended last week after lawmakers were unable to agree on some issues, including whether people who left the country to avoid detention can be granted amnesty, and it laid bare the resistance from some ruling-party loyalists to granting relief to opposition members.
On Thursday, lawmakers overcame the disagreement by allowing those abroad to have a lawyer seek amnesty on their behalf, rather than forcing them to return to Venezuela to request the relief in person.
Once someone abroad has filed a request for amnesty, the law shields them from arrest upon returning to the country to appear in court for a ruling on their request.
“It’s not perfect, but it is undoubtedly a great step forward for the reconciliation of Venezuela,” opposition lawmaker Nora Bracho said in the debate. “It will undoubtedly alleviate the suffering of many Venezuelans.”
According to Bracho, people convicted of human rights violations, war crimes, murder, drug trafficking and corruption do not qualify for amnesty.
However, the law also does not affect those “who are being prosecuted or may be prosecuted or convicted for promoting, instigating, soliciting, invoking, favoring, facilitating, financing, or participating in armed or forceful actions against” Venezuela “by foreign states, corporations or individuals.”
Analysts believe this could leave out members of the opposition who have supported Trump’s policy toward Venezuela.
Human rights groups and Venezuela's opposition have long called for general amnesty, but they have greeted the proposal with cautious hope and voiced a number of concerns over eligibility and execution.