Venezuela's Acting President Enacts Amnesty Law Following Maduro's Capture

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez formally signed an amnesty bill into law, following its approval by the legislature. This legislative action implicitly acknowledges the government's prior detention of political prisoners, a stance maintained for decades, and follows the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces on January 3, 2026. The new legislation is designed to facilitate the release of hundreds of detained politicians, activists, and lawyers targeted by the ruling party since 1999.

Rodríguez presented the signing as a moment where political leadership was "letting go of a little intolerance and opening new avenues for politics in Venezuela." The amnesty's scope is broad, covering involvement in political protests and alleged "violent actions" during conflict periods dating back to 1999, which includes the 2002 coup attempt and specific demonstrations or elections since 2004. However, the law includes notable exclusions, specifically omitting individuals convicted of "military rebellion" linked to events in 2019. Furthermore, the initial text does not detail provisions for the return of confiscated assets, the revocation of public office bans, or the cancellation of media sanctions, prompting questions about the law's overall comprehensiveness.

The implementation of the amnesty remains under the jurisdiction of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the existing justice system, a point cited by critics as a potential weakness. The immediate consequence is the potential liberation of a significant number of detainees. Foro Penal, a Venezuela-based prisoners' rights organization, estimates that over 600 individuals remained in custody for political reasons as of February 17, 2026. This follows a period where 448 confirmed releases had already occurred between the initial announcement of a broader release effort on January 8, 2026, and February 15, 2026. The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela has emphasized that such measures require full grounding in international human rights law to establish legitimacy.

The opposition's reaction to the measure has been notably divided, reflecting the complexity of the transition following the U.S. military operation, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve. Opposition lawmaker Nora Bracho described the bill as a "great step forward for the reconciliation of Venezuela," while acknowledging its limitations. In contrast, Pedro Urruchurtu, international relations director for Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, dismissed the legislation as "an invalid and illegitimate law, but also a trap to buy time and revictimize those persecuted," arguing that genuine amnesty requires political will beyond legislative action. Machado has previously called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.

This policy shift occurs in the context of the events of early January 2026, when U.S. forces captured President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas, leading to Rodríguez being sworn in as acting president on January 5. This period also saw the lifting of certain U.S. sanctions and the Rodríguez government's support for revising Venezuela's oil industry law to allow foreign participation. Additionally, Rodríguez announced the dismantling of the El Helicoide detention center, long associated with allegations of torture, with plans to convert the site into a cultural and sports hub. The sequence of events, from the presidential capture to the amnesty signing, signals a profound realignment of political power within the South American nation.