Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, signed an amnesty law on Thursday (February 19) night after the ruling party-controlled National Assembly approved what lawmakers described as a step toward national reconciliation.

Rodriguez signed the document alongside Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and her brother, the President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez.

"You have to know how to ask for forgiveness, and you also have to know how to receive forgiveness," Rodríguez said, adding that the law "opens an extraordinary door for Venezuela to reunite and learn to coexist democratically and peacefully."

The law was approved after a second debate in the legislature, headed by Rodriguez's brother Jorge Rodriguez.

The approved law provides amnesty for involvement in political protests and "violent actions" which took place during a brief coup in 2002 and demonstrations or elections in certain months of 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025. People convicted of "military rebellion" for involvement in events in 2019 are excluded.

The law does not detail the exact crimes which would be eligible for amnesty, though a previous draft laid out several - including instigation of illegal activity, resistance to authorities, rebellion and treason.

It also does not return assets of those detained, revoke public office bans given for political reasons or cancel sanctions against media outlets, as at least one previous draft would have.

Rodriguez said a special commission has been appointed to monitor implementation and urged it to move quickly, including by reviewing cases not covered by the amnesty.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FEBRUARY 19, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VENEZUELAN ACTING PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, JORGE RODRIGUEZ AND INTERIOR MINISTER, DIOSDADO CABELLO, LEAVING MIRAFLORES PALACE

2. DELCY RODRIGUEZ, JORGE RODRIGUEZ AND CABELLO STANDING AT ENTRANCE OF PALACE

3. JORGE RODRIGUEZ HANDING OVER AMNESTY LAW TO DELCY RORIGUEZ

4. DELCY RODRIGUEZ SIGNING LAW AND HOLDING UP DOCUMENT

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN ACTING PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

"You have to know how to ask for forgiveness, and you also have to know how to receive forgiveness. That is the process that begins with this amnesty law. But the amnesty law also goes further."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN ACTING PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

"Today, the Amnesty Law opens an extraordinary door for Venezuela to reunite and learn to coexist democratically and peacefully. For Venezuela to rid itself of hatred and intolerance, and for human rights to prevail. For love, understanding, and recognition to prevail."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN ACTING PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

"A special commission has been appointed to monitor the law. I ask you to act with the utmost speed. Just as you have worked hard for 20 days, I ask you to act with the utmost speed."

10. WHITE FLASH

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN ACTING PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

"That they take action to review cases not covered by the Amnesty Law and make the relevant recommendations to heal wounds, to redirect democratic coexistence, and to redirect justice. I ask all of Venezuela to devote ourselves to this task, which is as fundamental as one of the great virtues of our Republic, which must be justice."

12. VARIOUS OF RODRIGUEZ GREETING MEMBERS OF COMMISSION FOR COEXISTENCE AND PEACE AND LAWMAKERS

13. RODRIGUEZ WALKING INTO PALACE