Venezuela's Interim Government Proposes Sweeping Amnesty Law Amid Rapid Post-Maduro Reforms
CARACAS – In a sweeping address before the nation’s Supreme Court, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez unveiled plans Friday for a general amnesty law intended to cover acts of political violence from 1999 to the present. The proposal marks one of the most significant reforms since the U.S.-backed removal of former leader Nicolás Maduro just weeks ago.
"This law is designed to heal the wounds left by years of confrontation, violence, and extremism," Rodríguez told a gathering of senior officials. "It will allow us to restore justice and move forward as a nation." The announcement was coupled with a pledge to launch a national consultation on judicial reform and to shutter the notorious El Helicoide prison in Caracas—a facility long accused by human rights groups of housing and torturing political detainees under Maduro’s rule.
Originally constructed as a modernist shopping mall, the sprawling complex will be converted into a sports, cultural, and commercial center for police families and nearby communities, according to the interim government.
Since assuming power less than a month ago, Rodríguez, 56, has moved swiftly to overhaul key sectors of Venezuelan society—a shift warmly welcomed by Washington. Last week, her administration passed legislation opening the state-dominated oil industry to private investment, a longstanding U.S. demand. Shortly after, the Trump administration rolled back sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil sector.
On January 8, five days after Maduro was captured in a deadly U.S. military operation, the government also agreed to release inmates considered political prisoners by advocacy organizations. While officials claim more than 800 have been freed since last year, independent tallies are far lower. The Foro Penal rights group puts the number at fewer than 400 since December, with under 300 released since the January 8 announcement.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas confirmed Friday that all known American citizens detained in Venezuela have been released, including Peruvian-American Arturo Gallino Rullier, who was arrested last November on unspecified charges.
In a sign of deepening diplomatic engagement, the U.S. is preparing to reestablish a formal presence in Caracas after years of shuttered operations. Veteran diplomat Laura Dogu is expected to arrive Saturday as charge d’affaires, the highest-ranking official below an ambassador.
Voices from the Ground
Carlos Mendez, political analyst in Caracas: “This amnesty could be a turning point if implemented transparently. But many will watch closely to see who is excluded—true reconciliation requires more than a decree.”
Isabella Ríos, human rights lawyer: “Closing El Helicoide is symbolic, but where will former detainees find justice? This feels like a rushed gesture to please international observers rather than a genuine reckoning.”
Ana Torres, sister of a former detainee: “We waited outside prisons for weeks. This amnesty comes only because the U.S. demanded it. It’s not mercy—it’s a transaction.”
Professor James Keller, Latin America scholar at Georgetown University: “The speed of these reforms reveals how much was pre-negotiated. The risk now is that old grievances are papered over without addressing institutional decay.”
As families of detainees continue to await reunions and the political landscape reshapes, Rodríguez’s amnesty proposal sets the stage for a fraught—and closely watched—path toward national reconciliation.