Venezuela’s new President Delcy Rodríguez announced a sweeping amnesty Friday, signaling a potential turning point for the politically and economically strained nation. The move comes less then a month after Rodríguez assumed the presidency following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military incursion – an event that has sent ripples through the region and prompted calls for democratic reform. Rodríguez’s announcements,including the planned closure of the notorious Helicoide prison,represent the latest developments in a rapidly evolving political landscape.
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez announced a broad amnesty Friday, a move coming less than a month after she assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military incursion.
Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, took office January 3 after his capture. The amnesty announcement signals a potential shift in the country’s political landscape as the new administration seeks to address widespread unrest and political divisions.
Speaking at the opening of the judicial year at the Supreme Court building – a traditional appearance for the president – Rodríguez announced plans for a sweeping amnesty law. “We have decided to promote a general amnesty law that covers the entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present,” she said.
The proposed law, which must be debated in the Venezuelan Parliament, is expected to face scrutiny given its majority officialist composition.
While details remain limited, Rodríguez stated that the amnesty would not extend to individuals prosecuted or convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, corruption, or serious human rights violations.
In a separate announcement, Rodríguez ordered the closure of the Helicoide prison in Caracas, a facility widely denounced by opposition groups and human rights activists as a center for torture. The move underscores growing international pressure regarding the treatment of political prisoners in Venezuela.
Rodríguez directed that the Helicoide be converted “into a social, sports, cultural and commercial center for the police family and for the surrounding communities.”
According to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, Venezuela holds more than 700 political prisoners, many of whom are currently detained in the Helicoide. Foro Penal has been a leading voice documenting the plight of those imprisoned for political reasons.
Since January 8, approximately 300 prisoners have been released as part of a process initiated by Rodríguez, though progress has been slow.
Rodríguez also called for a “new system of justice” in Venezuela, criticizing the current system as corrupt and subservient to the ruling socialist party. The call for reform reflects widespread concerns about the impartiality and effectiveness of the Venezuelan judiciary.
