Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president of Venezuela, announced reforms to its controversial statute aimed at suppressing political dissidents.
In a statement published on X, Rodriguez shared an official document requesting a partial reform to Venezuela’s 2017 Constitutional Law Against Hate, for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance.
“We continue to take steps toward a new stage of citizen coexistence in Venezuela,” Rodriguez wrote on X. “This reform seeks to open new spaces for reunification of Venezuelans and to promote tolerance for diversity in full respect for human dignity.”
Seguimos dando pasos hacia una nueva etapa de convivencia ciudadana en Venezuela.
He solicitado a la Asamblea Nacional la reforma parcial de la Ley Constitucional contra el Odio, por la Convivencia Pacífica y la Tolerancia, para avanzar en la despenalización de los tipos penales pic.twitter.com/FxlzX9gFkS
— Delcy Rodríguez (@delcyrodriguezv) September 29, 2026
Decriminalization Of "Hate" Speech
According to the document, “the purpose of the requested amendment is to advance the decriminalization of the conduct outlined in the aforementioned law.”
Rodriguez’s recent effort is part of the Venezuelan government’s initiative to reform its criminal justice system and to promote reconciliation and democratic coexistence among Venezuelans.
The Law Against Hatred
In Aug. 2017, former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro introduced the Law Against Hatred, which passed unanimously by the nation’s National Constituent Assembly just a few months later in Nov. 2017.
The legislation imposed prison terms ranging from 10 to 20 years for anyone who promotes hatred or violence based on membership in a social, ethnic, religious, political, or sexual orientation group.
The law also revoked broadcasting licenses and fined digital platforms that failed to remove content identified as inciting hatred within six hours of its upload.
Human rights organizations, journalists’ associations and international groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists criticized the statute for failing to define terms like hate properly.
According to these groups, the law's ambiguous language opened the door for the government to silence and punish political dissidents.
Criticisms of Rodriguez In Power
The Venezuelan leader’s move comes amid ongoing criticism of her role as president following Maduro’s capture, given her role as his former Vice President.
Recently, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) called out the Trump administration for allowing the Maduro Regime to remain in power amid its transition towards democratic elections.
