Protesters march in Venezuela as National Assembly weighs amnesty bill | Donald Trump News
Protests Erupt in Caracas as National Assembly Debates Amnesty Bill for Political Prisoners
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Protesters took to the streets of Caracas on Thursday during competing demonstrations coinciding with Venezuela’s National Youth Day, as the National Assembly deliberated a pivotal bill to grant amnesty to political prisoners.
The rallies represented a significant show of opposition against the government of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who has led the nation since the United States deported President Nicolas Maduro in January. Rodriguez’s administration urged supporters to participate in counterprotests, resulting in thousands participating across the capital.
The talks in the National Assembly revolve around a proposed amendment that has long been a central demand of opposition groups and human rights organizations. While government officials previously indicated that a final vote could occur this week, that timeline has since been postponed.
Since taking office, Rodriguez has overseen the release of hundreds of political prisoners, perceived by some as a concession to the administration of former President Donald Trump. Additional government actions have included limiting oil deliveries to Cuba and facilitating increased foreign investment in Venezuela’s state-controlled oil sector.
The proposed amnesty would cover charges associated with treason, terrorism, and spreading hate, offenses that have resulted in the incarceration of dissidents over the past two decades. However, the bill explicitly excludes individuals convicted of murder, drug trafficking, corruption, or human rights violations.
UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission member Alex Neve remarked that the legislation could offer justice for those unlawfully detained for political reasons in Venezuela. He stressed the need for transparency, with civil society organizations playing a central role in the process.
Human rights organizations have questioned the government’s commitment to releasing political prisoners. Foro Penal, a Venezuelan human rights group, reported at least 431 releases, a figure lower than the government’s count. They also indicated that more than 600 political prisoners remain incarcerated.
The case of Juan Pablo Guanipa, an opposition politician recently freed only to be placed under house arrest, has further fueled skepticism.
Despite these concerns, the amnesty bill is viewed by some as a breakthrough for a country that has long denied the existence of political prisoners. The measure is expected to rescind prohibitions preventing several opposition leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, from running for office.
The Maduro government has faced accusations of systematically suppressing dissent through state-sanctioned violence, including forced disappearances and torture. Allegations of election manipulation have dogged the regime, which controversially secured a third presidential term in 2024.
Machado, who was named the opposition coalition’s nominee for the upcoming election, was barred from running shortly before the vote, along with her successor, Corina Yoris. Edmundo Gonzalez ultimately became the opposition’s candidate, whom independent experts have characterized as the rightful winner of the election.
On Monday, National Assembly leader Jorge Rodriguez denied plans for new presidential elections in the near future, stating that “stabilization” must be achieved first. The Trump administration has similarly dismissed calls for new elections, despite Machado’s assertion of an opposition “mandate” to govern.
In a related development, Trump took to social media on Thursday to deny that American oil magnate Harry Sargeant III held any authority to represent his administration in Venezuela. Trump clarified that only State Department-approved individuals are authorized to act on behalf of the United States.
The statement emerged following reports of Sargeant’s involvement in advising the U.S. government on accessing Venezuela’s substantial oil reserves, a key interest for Trump.
Meanwhile, Trump emphasized that his administration was handling relations with Rodríguez’s government effectively, describing U.S.-Venezuela relations as “extraordinary.” His remarks followed a meeting between Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Rodriguez in Caracas, the first visit by a member of Trump’s cabinet since the regime change.
