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Venezuela to free ‘large number’ of prisoners as Spain prepares to welcome citizens
- Trump vows to veto Congress over military action
The Venezuelan government has announced plans to release a “large number” of prisoners, including foreign nationals, in what it described as a gesture aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence.
The announcement comes days after the dramatic capture of Venezuela’s now-deposed president, Nicolás Maduro, during a U.S. military operation last weekend.
Speaking on Thursday, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the prisoner release was already underway but did not provide figures.
“The release is happening right now,” Rodríguez said, adding that the move was intended to foster “peaceful coexistence.”
Rodríguez is the brother of Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez.
Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that five Spanish citizens are among those being freed. In a statement, the ministry said the individuals, including one dual national, were released in Caracas and were preparing to return to Spain.
“The government of Spain welcomes the liberation today in Caracas of five Spaniards,” the statement said.
Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal also welcomed the announcement. Its director, Alfredo Romero, noted that as of January 5, the organisation had recorded 806 political prisoners in the country and renewed calls for their release.
The prisoner release comes amid growing international fallout from the U.S. military raid that led to Maduro’s capture. In Washington, the operation has reignited debate over presidential war powers.
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution seeking to bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. The measure passed with 52 votes, including the support of five Republican senators.
Trump has indicated he may authorize additional operations in Venezuela and has vowed to veto the resolution. He criticised Republican senators who backed the measure, saying they “should never be elected to office again.”
Overriding a presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, a scenario widely seen as unlikely given deep partisan divisions and continued Republican support for the president.
