On shortcomings and deficiencies of the ‘Amnesty Law’ in Venezuela

B100217/2026

European Parliament resolution on shortcomings and deficiencies of the ‘Amnesty Law’ in Venezuela

(2026/2704(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Venezuela,

having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Nicolás Maduro was ousted in January 2026 but the regime's inner circle remains firmly entrenched in power, including Delcy Rodríguez, currently acting as President and previously Vice-President under Maduro’s regime;

whereas the Venezuelan regime adopted the "Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence" in February 2026; whereas this law, resulting from foreign pressure, manifestly insufficient, was rushed through the illegitimate regime-controlled assembly, and has become an additional instrument of the repressive apparatus of the regime, serving to normalise crimes against humanity instead of ending them; whereas the law is utterly flawed and cannot be considered a genuine step towards democratisation, and is rather an attempt to whitewash human rights violations and escape accountability:

whereas around 470 political prisoners remain unjustly detained, including military personnel, lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders, foreigners – some EU nationals - and ordinary citizens prosecuted under spurious and prefabricated terrorism charges; whereas the democratic opposition in exile continues to face arbitrary sentencing, asset freezes, and denial of the right to return, that effectively impedes them from any participation in a possible future democratic process;

whereas the law is not applied automatically, forcing individuals to admit to false allegations before a judicial system controlled by the regime; whereas beneficiaries continue to face restrictive conditions — including house arrest and judicial supervision — that cannot be considered genuine freedom;

Deplores the "Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence"'s failure to guarantee the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, with at least 470 individuals still unjustly detained under inhuman and degrading conditions, including torture;

Calls for the full and unconditional release of all individuals arbitrarily detained for political reasons, including military personnel, foreigners, and those prosecuted under spurious terrorism charges, and insists that released individuals enjoy full civil and political rights; stresses the Amnesty Law must under no circumstances be applied to shield those responsible for human rights violations, who must be held fully accountable;

Demands that the regime immediately cease all persecution of the democratic opposition inside Venezuela and abroad; calls for the unconditional lifting of any restriction against opposition leaders in exile and guarantees of their safe return without reprisals as a precondition for any political dialogue;

Firmly reiterates that until irreversible steps towards democratisation are taken, including the unconditional release of all political prisoners, the withdrawal and annulment of all politically motivated charges against the democratic opposition to the regime, and the establishment of a credible and internationally monitored roadmap for reestablishing democracy with guarantees for prompt, free and fair elections, the VP/HR and Member States should not lift any sanctions imposed on individuals designated for human rights violations;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Elected president of Venezuela Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and Nobel prize winner Maria Corina Machado.