The Faculty of Law Council at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) has endorsed the candidacy of Professor Magaly Vásquez González for the position of Attorney General of Venezuela, as the nation’s selection process moves forward. The endorsement comes at a critical time for Venezuela’s judicial system, as stakeholders seek to reinforce the rule of law.
The council’s decision, announced Monday, March 9, 2026, follows a previous call for national authorities to pursue “a process of reinstitutionalization and democratization” through consensus-building across political and social sectors. The faculty emphasized that the university views itself as “a space for encounter, study, and proposal for the spiritual, civic, and democratic recovery of Venezuela.”
The move coincides with the establishment of a Committee of Evaluation of Nominations for Citizen Power by the Parliament, tasked with assessing candidates for the Attorney General position. According to a statement released by the council, the role of Attorney General is “of vital importance for the full validity of the Social State of Law and Justice enshrined in the Constitution,” and the appointment should be based on candidates’ professional, academic, and civic merits, achieved through broad consensus.
Selection Process
The agreement follows the Parliament’s designation of a Committee of Evaluation of Nominations for Citizen Power, responsible for evaluating aspirants to the position of Attorney General.
The council highlighted Vásquez González’s extensive academic and professional background, noting she received her undergraduate and postgraduate education at UCAB and has spent much of her career teaching and conducting research there. She has been a practicing lawyer, specializing in criminal sciences and criminology, and holds a doctorate in law from the university.
Candidate Background
The university council noted that Vásquez González has lectured on criminal law and criminal procedure at the institution for over thirty years, and is the author of a widely recognized body of work in her fields of expertise. She has likewise held several university leadership positions, including Director of the School of Law, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Director General of Postgraduate Studies.
Currently, Vásquez González serves as the UCAB’s secretary, head of the Department of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, and coordinator of the “Teresa de la Parra” Chair of Women’s Studies. She is also a Full Professor and a member of the Academy of Political and Social Sciences of Venezuela, according to her Instagram profile.
Institutional Support
The Council stated that Vásquez González “meets the constitutional requirements to hold the office of Attorney General of the Republic and embodies our highest civic values.”
The council believes her appointment “would be a transcendental step for the reinstitutionalization of the criminal justice system.” The agreement includes formally endorsing Vásquez’s candidacy, sending copies of the document to both Vásquez and the Committee of Evaluation of Nominations, and disseminating the announcement through the Faculty’s institutional channels.
The resolution was unanimously approved during an extraordinary session held Friday, March 6, 2026, in the Fernando Pérez Llantada S.J. Meeting room of the UCAB School of Law in Caracas.
The endorsement from a prominent academic institution signals a potential shift towards greater independence and professionalism within Venezuela’s legal framework.
