The President of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, stated on Wednesday that he hopes the amnesty bill proposed by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez will accelerate political dialogue in the country.
Following a meeting with opposition parties, the lawmaker described the bill as an "initial unilateral contribution" from the Executive branch, decided without prior consultation. He expressed hope that the initiative would achieve consensus and be unanimously approved by the Legislature.
"We hope that the amnesty will be sufficiently broad so that all sectors not involved in serious crimes can be freed," Rodríguez said during a broadcast on state television.
He indicated that the legislation would establish mechanisms for releases and send a "powerful message" regarding the intention for a "new political moment" in the South American nation. A meeting is planned to evaluate the scope of the initiative, with presentation to Parliament expected "very soon."
Previously, the Acting President called for a "true political dialogue" that includes both coinciding and divergent political sectors, emphasizing that the process should be Venezuelan-led without external orders from Washington, Bogotá, or Madrid.
The proposed amnesty covers the period since 1999. While the government reports 895 releases since January 8, the NGO Foro Penal has verified 350 releases as of Wednesday, noting that 687 individuals remain imprisoned.
