How Venezuela Is Quietly Shifting to Democracy

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Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez and the ruling PSUV party have taken a series of modest but meaningful steps to liberalize Venezuela’s political system and prepare for future free elections.

In the aftermath of the US special operation to capture dictator Nicolas Maduro in Caracas in January 2026, the media has largely overlooked the reforms taking place in Venezuela—as well as the progress made by the domestic opposition under the leadership of María Corina Machado. It is clear that Venezuela is moving towards freedom, democracy, and economic prosperity, at least for now. 

Promising Developments on the Ground Inside Venezuela

Venezuela is currently led by the interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president before her abrupt accession to the highest office in early January. Rodríguez is greatly aided by the efforts of her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, who serves as President of the National Assembly. The Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) continues to dominate Venezuelan politics in the National Assembly, but has begun a course correction away from its Chavismo roots with a string of recent legislative changes.

The first promising development was the Amendment to the Organic Hydrocarbons Law, passed on January 29. This legislation allows for oil exploration, production, and commercialization by private and foreign companies. Previously, this industry had been monopolized by the state. Now, for the first time since the nationalization of Venezuela’s oil industry in 1976, foreign companies can hold majority ownership over Venezuelan oil firms.

The second major change took place in February, with the passage of the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence. This extremely pivotal piece of legislation grants amnesty for most political crimes during Venezuela’s history under Chavismo, from 1999 through 2026. Initially, the law led to the release of multiple political prisoners held in Venezuelan prisons. More fundamentally, it sets the stage for free elections, somewhat protecting Rodríguez and other current opposition leaders from the suppression and inhumane treatment of their predecessors.

Third, in March, the United States and Venezuela agreed to re-establish full diplomatic relations, which had been severed since 2019. The US Embassy is now open, and the State Department has stated that the United States fully supports the “peaceful transition” taking place in Venezuela.  

Finally, earlier in April, the National Assembly unanimously passed mining legislation which opens up foreign and private ventures into a plethora of minerals, including........

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