Venezuela: Exceptions proposed in new amnesty law

TT

Published 17.21

 

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez speaks under a framed picture of captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Archive photo. Photo: Ariana Cubillos/AP/TT

Venezuela's proposed amnesty law will not cover "serious crimes" against human rights, according to a draft presented to parliament.

The law is an initiative of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who took office in early January after the US captured President Nicolás Maduro.

It is also proposed to exempt war crimes, corruption and drug trafficking.

The amnesty will extend back to 1999, when the so-called Bolivarian Revolution was launched by socialist leader Hugo Chávez. It is unclear whether the law is intended to benefit political prisoners or civil servants, or both.

However, experts warn that the text of the law is vague enough to allow for arbitrariness within the judiciary, which is widely seen as loyal to the ruling Chavistas.