Venezuela's largest opposition coalition, the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), demanded yesterday that the amnesty bill currently under discussion in parliament be 'true, comprehensive, and effective' and lead to the 'full' release of all political prisoners. 'An amnesty that excludes prisoners is not an amnesty,' the coalition said in a statement on social media X. The amnesty bill, although proposed since 1999, details ten political events, which has been criticized by various NGOs who claim it leaves out hundreds of political prisoners, including military personnel. Last Thursday, the National Assembly (AN, Parliament), controlled by chavism, postponed the second and final debate needed for the law's approval to this week, due to disagreements over an article that requires those wishing to benefit from the amnesty to 'get right with the law,' that is, to present themselves to the justice system.
