Under U.S. pressure, Venezuela moves toward political prisoner amnesty law

Venezuela’s ruling-party-controlled National Assembly on Thursday took up debate on a sweeping amnesty bill aimed at freeing hundreds of people jailed for political reasons, a move widely seen as driven by sustained pressure from the United States for political concessions following the ouster of former president Nicolás Maduro .

The bill, proposed by acting President Delcy Rodríguez , would grant amnesty for politically motivated offenses dating back to 1999, covering years of repression under the governments of Hugo Chávez and Maduro. Rodríguez has framed the measure as an effort to “heal the wounds left by political confrontation fueled by violence and extremism” and to restore coexistence in a deeply polarized country.

The amnesty push comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement with Washington, which has made the release of political prisoners a central condition for easing sanctions and restoring economic ties. U.S. officials have repeatedly pressed Caracas to take visible steps toward political liberalization and respect for civil liberties.

Since the process began in January, Venezuelan rights group Foro Penal has verified the release of about 380 political prisoners , while nearly 690 remain in detention , including opposition activists, protesters and human rights defenders. Families of detainees have staged demonstrations demanding broader and faster releases.

Under the draft law, amnesty would apply to charges linked to political dissent and protest but exclude those convicted of serious crimes , including murder, drug trafficking, corruption and human rights violations. Critics say the bill fails to overturn convictions, restore confiscated assets or lift political bans, and may exclude many detainees because it applies only to specific episodes of unrest.

The debate unfolded against a visibly changing political climate. Television stations broke a long-standing taboo by airing comments from opposition leaders , and on Thursday students marched openly through Caracas , calling for the release of all political prisoners, scenes rarely tolerated under Maduro’s rule.

Lawmakers ultimately postponed final approval to resolve disagreements over eligibility and implementation. Debate is expected to resume next week.

If passed and signed, the amnesty would mark the most significant prisoner release effort in years, a cautious step toward political opening, closely watched by Washington and rights groups alike.