The National Assembly (AN, Parliament) postponed the second discussion of the so-called Amnesty Law this Thursday, February 12. The postponement, for the following week, takes place after the approval in the first discussion seven days ago. The project has received 2,700 contributions from Human Rights defenders, social movements of Chavismo and relatives of those considered political prisoners during an accelerated public consultation process.

First modification: 02/12/2026 - 20:45 Last modification: 02/12/2026 - 22:40

The Venezuelan Parliament, dominated by Chavismo, had begun this February 12 the second debate necessary to approve the Amnesty Law project promoted by the Government in charge, after a week of public consultation on the text, which has been criticized by NGOs and activists, who denounce exclusions and hasty approval times.

However, on Thursday afternoon the National Assembly announced its decision to postpone the debate. The measure was approved unanimously and was attributed to disagreements in several articles that are part of the project.

The divisive points

In the session held this Thursday, even the sixth article was approved. Then the debate stalled on the point that states that the amnesty is for all those people who are or may be "prosecuted or convicted for their alleged or proven participation in crimes or misdemeanors committed", as long as "it is lawful or becomes lawful after the entry into force" of the regulations.

The opposition deputy Luis Florido affirmed that it is necessary to modify the article because, in his opinion, the request for presentation before Justice already implies that the people who are prosecuted are guilty.

Chavismo, on the other hand, argued that the Constitution establishes that people must be present in a criminal process.

The vice president of the commission, the opposition member Nora Bracho, also proposed the postponement with the objective of "continuing to debate and discuss this article (seventh)."

Before this announcement, Chavista deputy Jorge Arreaza, who headed the public consultation commission for the text, maintained that this week they collected opinions throughout the country and held meetings with various sectors, including the Judiciary, NGOs defending Human Rights, social movements of Chavismo and relatives of those considered political prisoners.

As reported in the first intervention of the debate, they have received 2,700 contributions and written proposals for the law and added that "proposals continue to arrive."

For her part, opposition representative Nora Bracho, vice president of the commission, declared that this project represents "a historic opportunity" for Venezuela.

"When a nation goes through this level of breakdown, the response cannot be simply turning the page. It must be forward-thinking justice," he added.

Approval first, consultation later

The Legislature, controlled by Chavismo, approved the proposal last week in first discussion and then held meetings with sectors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and relatives of imprisoned opponents, as part of the public consultation on the draft law.

In its 13 articles, the instrument would grant "general and full amnesty" to all people "prosecuted or convicted" for a series of crimes, excluding those accused of serious violations of Human Rights, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, drug trafficking, corruption and "crimes against public property."

The project covers cases since 1999, covering the 27 years of Chavismo governments, but its article 6 limits it to ten specific periods of political situations, between the April 2002 coup against the late President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013) to the protests unleashed after the controversial presidential election of July 28, 2024.

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The content of the proposal could change in this second discussion and, if approved, it would be sanctioned as law, subsequently sent to the Presidency for promulgation and subsequent publication in the Official Gazette.

This amnesty project is part of a "new political moment", announced by the acting president Delcy Rodríguez, in the context of a release process that began on January 8.

The debate, which was later postponed, took place on the same day that young Chavistas and opposition university students march in Caracas for Youth Day, while the United States Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, continues his historic visit to the South American country, with a tour of two oil facilities.

With EFE and local media

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