"The show of defiance came as the National Assembly debated a landmark bill that would grant amnesty to political prisoners detained under Maduro. A final vote on the bill has been postponed, despite government statements previously indicating that it would be passed this week. Rodriguez has overseen the release of hundreds of political prisoners since taking office, in what has been seen as one of several concessions to the administration of United States President Donald Trump."
"However, critics have raised concerns over how the legislation, if passed, would be implemented and who would be eligible for release. The bill has not yet received a public reading. Rodriguez had announced the amnesty legislation last month, saying it was designed to heal the wounds left by the political confrontation fuelled by violence and extremism. She said it would cover what she described as the entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present."
Thousands of opposition supporters marched in dueling demonstrations in Caracas on National Youth Day as the National Assembly weighed an amnesty bill for political prisoners. Delcy Rodriguez assumed power after the United States abducted Nicolas Maduro in January and called on supporters to counterprotest. Both rallies attracted thousands and marked the first major opposition showing since Rodriguez took office. A final vote on the amnesty bill was postponed despite earlier government indications it would pass this week. Rodriguez has released hundreds of political prisoners and restricted oil deliveries to Cuba while opening the state oil industry to foreign firms. Critics questioned implementation and eligibility for the proposed amnesty, and the bill has not yet received a public reading; Rodriguez said it would cover political violence from 1999 to the present.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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