Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, announced a sweeping proposal for a nationwide amnesty on Friday, marking one of her first major reforms since assuming power following the U.S.-backed removal of Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking at the Venezuelan Supreme Court in the presence of senior officials, Rodriguez revealed plans for a “general amnesty law” covering all political conflicts from 1999, the year Hugo Chávez became president through the current administration. She described the law as a way to “heal the wounds left by political confrontation” and restore justice in the country.
Alongside the amnesty, Rodriguez outlined a plan to shut down Caracas’ notorious El Helicoide prison, where human rights groups have reported political detainees being subjected to torture under Maduro’s rule. The massive facility, originally designed as a shopping mall, will be repurposed into a cultural, sports, and commercial center serving police families and local communities.
Families of prisoners expressed hope and relief. Betsy Orellana, 63, whose son is currently detained at El Helicoide, told AFP: “It’s a huge joy. It’s total liberation.”
Rodriguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president, has moved rapidly in less than a month to enact reforms aligned with U.S. interests, including opening the oil sector to private investment, a priority for the Trump administration. In response, Washington eased sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry and announced the release of all known American detainees, including Peruvian-American Arturo Gallino Rullier.
Despite these changes, opposition leaders remain cautiously optimistic. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado stated that the amnesty appeared to be “a response to U.S. pressure” rather than a voluntary initiative.
Opposition lawmaker Tomas Guanipa expressed hope that the reforms would signal the end of repression and a step toward permanent democratic freedoms.
The U.S. is also preparing to re-establish its diplomatic presence in Caracas, with seasoned diplomat Laura Dogu set to arrive as charge d’affaires, the highest-ranking official below an ambassador.
Rodriguez’s proposals, if fully implemented, could mark a significant turning point for Venezuela, reshaping both its political landscape and its treatment of prisoners, while signaling closer ties with the United States.
