The National Assembly approved a law that punishes Venezuelans who request or support external sanctions with up to 30 years in prison

The National Assembly of Venezuela approved on Thursday a law that severely punishes Venezuelans that request or support international sanctions, ignore public powers or threaten the territorial integrity and sovereignty and independence of the country.

The project approved by the unicameral Legislature, with a pro-government majority, implicitly targets opposition leaders, many of whom have supported economic sanctions in an effort to pressure the government to negotiate. The legal instrument codifies these actions as crimes against humanity and allows the processing of anyone who expresses support.

The law contemplates the disqualification from holding public office for 60 years and running for elections, impeachment, confiscation of assets and trials in the absence of the accused. It also includes the opening of judicial proceedings against those who request or participate in “acts of aggression.” with sentences of between 25 and 30 years in prison.

Amid criticism from political opponents and local and foreign human rights organizationslegislators approved the rule in a second discussion.

The instrument will come into force after it is promulgated by President Nicolás Maduro and published in the Official Gazette. It will previously be sent to the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, an entity close to the government, to rule on its constitutionality, said Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Assembly and close collaborator of Maduro.

The law was promoted by Maduro’s allies after the United States House of Representatives approved a bill that prohibits the US government from negotiating with people or companies that have commercial operations with Venezuela. That project was presented by Florida representatives, Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Republican Mike Waltz, chosen by Donald Trump to be his national security advisor. Its processing in the US Senate and its presidential sanction are still pending.

Maduro has defended the new regulation, arguing that it is necessary to establish “heavy penalties for all Venezuelans, born here or with Venezuelan citizenship, who request, promote or support calls for criminal blockades, sanctions, or that they ask for actions from any foreigner who wants to harm Venezuela.”

The president maintains that the complex crisis facing the South American country is a consequence of the sanctions that Washington has imposed on Venezuela to force it to separate from power, while opponents and analysts assure that the economic and social difficulties are due to the wrong policies applied by Maduro. in his 11 years in office.

Maduro’s allies seek to punish those Venezuelans, including opposition leader María Corina Machadowho have requested sanctions and blockades against Venezuela.

Last Friday, the Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office opened a new investigation against Machado for the alleged “commission of the crime of treason” after issuing comments in favor of a bill approved by the US House of Representatives.

In defense of the political leader, former opposition candidate Edmundo González assured last week on his X account, formerly Twitter, that the accusation against Machado is “an attempt to silence her” and an attack not only against her, “but against all the Venezuelans.”

The Maduro government shows his fear “before a woman who has mobilized an entire nation and who, despite persecution, continues to advance so that the sovereign will of all Venezuelans is recognized,” added González, who is asylum in Spain and whom the opposition considers the winner in the elections. on July 28. The electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner without showing the voting records.

The United States recognized González last week as “elected president” of Venezuela.

Machado, who remains in hiding, has also been under criminal investigation since the beginning of August for alleged instigation of insurrection due to the popular protests that followed the elections.}