Opposition-controlled congress passed legislation late on Tuesday that would give amnesty to political activists imprisoned 17 years ago

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Opponents of Venezuela’s socialist administration are preparing for a fight over a congressional bid to give amnesty to activists the opposition considers political prisoners.

Venezuela’s opposition-controlled congress passed legislation late on Tuesday that would free dozens of people imprisoned in connection with opposing the socialist revolution launched 17 years ago by the late president Hugo Chávez.

Supporters launched fireworks around the darkened city, and lawmakers joined families of the prisoners in cheering “freedom!” as the legislation was passed.

The legislation was a key campaign promise during the 2015 legislative race that gave the opposition control of congress for the first time in more than a decade.

Several hours before the bill was passed, President Nicolás Maduro reiterated his determination to stop the bill, and said it was an attempt to free murderers and terrorists.

“This law will not go into effect,” he said in a televised speech. “Attempts to free terrorists and criminals cannot go through, do what they will.”

Maduro denies opposition accusations that his administration holds political prisoners, insisting they are simply “imprisoned politicians”.



His critics accuse him of arbitrarily arresting dozens of student demonstrators during the 2014 protests, jailing critics on fabricated coup plots and rigging legal proceedings against them.



“No murderer will receive amnesty,” said opposition legislator Delsa Solórzano, who helped write the legislation. “These are our political prisoners, citizens who were charged with whatever crime [the government] could come up with.”

Congress took up the bill without prior notice and approved it hours later, prompting Maduro to say the opposition bloc had used a sneaky fast track approach.

The congress president, Henry Ramos, said the bill was needed to free those who had been sentenced during show trails.

It is the congress’s first major initiative since the session began in January.

The legislation could free more than 70 people, including politician Leopoldo López, a well-known opposition leader.

The former Caracas area mayor was jailed in 2014 for his role in leading a sometimes bloody anti-government protest movement.

Socialist officials say that if congress overrides Maduro’s veto, the supreme court will block the legislation. The court has thwarted nearly all congressional action this year, overturning attempts to limit the president’s power, preventing congress from exercising more control over institutions and preventing lawmakers from taking their seats.

Chávez, who was himself a beneficiary of amnesty after leading a failed 1992 coup, in 2007 decreed amnesty in relation to the events of 2002 that included a brief coup against him.

The opposition’s other main promise has been to remove Maduro from office within the year.

This report includes material from the AP and Reuters







