Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez announced Friday a proposed amnesty law covering hundreds of prisoners detained since 1999, alongside plans to transform the notorious El Helicoide detention center in Caracas into a sports and social services facility. Speaking at the Supreme Court of Justice, Rodríguez framed the measure as a step toward national healing following nearly three weeks of political upheaval since Nicolás Maduro's capture by U.S. forces on January 3.
"May it be a law that serves to heal the wounds left by political confrontation, violence, and extremism. May it serve to restore justice in our country and restore peaceful coexistence among Venezuelans," Rodríguez stated. The announcement represents the most significant policy shift by the interim government since it assumed power, but comes amid mounting pressure from Washington and domestic opposition forces questioning the administration's commitment to democratic transition.
Details of the amnesty proposal
The proposed law would cover detentions dating from 1999 to the present, though specific exclusions have not been fully detailed. Human rights organization Foro Penal estimates that 711 political prisoners remain in Venezuelan custody, many held on charges stemming from protests against the Maduro regime. The scope of eligibility and the timeline for implementation remain unclear, with the measure requiring approval from Venezuela's National Assembly.
El Helicoide, a brutalist structure originally designed as a shopping mall in the 1950s, became synonymous with state repression under Maduro. The facility housed political prisoners subjected to what international observers documented as systematic torture and inhumane conditions. Its conversion to civilian use carries profound symbolic weight, though the logistics of such a transformation and the timeline for prisoner relocation have not been specified. Opposition leader María Corina Machado responded with cautious language, stating that any amnesty must be "comprehensive and unconditional" and not serve as a mechanism to legitimize the interim government's hold on power without clear democratic elections.
Members are reading: How the amnesty's exclusions will reveal whether this is genuine reform or a managed transition protecting the old guard.
The proposed amnesty law represents the first major policy test for Venezuela's interim government, attempting to balance domestic demands for justice with international pressure for stability. Whether Rodríguez's conciliatory language translates into substantive institutional reform will depend on the law's final scope and implementation. The closure of El Helicoide offers powerful symbolism, but Venezuela's transition remains fragile, caught between the gravitational pull of the old regime's networks and uncertain democratic futures. The coming weeks will determine if this moment becomes a foundation for reconciliation or simply another chapter in Venezuela's cycle of managed political theater.
Subscribe to our free newsletter to unlock direct links to all sources used in this article.
We believe you deserve to verify everything we write. That's why we meticulously document every source.
