Politics/News
PSUV takes control of commission to reform hate speech law
The National Assembly created a special panel on September 29 to amend the 2017 law, with eight ruling-party members and three from the opposition.
The National Assembly established a special commission to reform the Law Against Hatred, originally enacted in 2017. The panel is presided over by Pedro Infante and includes eight members from the PSUV and three from the opposition.
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez requested the reform, acknowledging that the statute had been applied abusively in some cases. Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez directed that the commission be formed immediately.
Journalist guilds and NGOs have called for the reform to include the annulment of ongoing criminal proceedings. The National Union of Press Workers reported that seven out of ten journalists facing judicial processes had been charged under the hate law as of January 2026.
Espacio Público stated that a formal amendment alone would not suffice to address the law's impact, which carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
