EU Weighs Lifting Sanctions on Venezuela's Rodríguez
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Venezuela's unanimous approval of an amnesty law for political prisoners marks genuine progress toward democratic transition. It's great that Spain is pushing the EU to consider lifting sanctions on Delcy Rodríguez in a bid to indicate that Caracas is heading in the right direction, especially as diplomatic engagement works better than isolation. As steps toward dialogue are occurring, Europe must reciprocate to encourage further reform.
Government-critical narrative
The so-called amnesty is actually a sham designed to whitewash ongoing repression while hundreds remain imprisoned and torture centers stay open. Spain's willingness to lift sanctions on Delcy Rodríguez — who authorized mass detentions of opposition activists — betrays democratic values and rewards an illegitimate regime born from electoral fraud.
