Venezuela’s acting president vows to continue releasing prisoners detained under Maduro

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez signaled Wednesday that the country would continue releasing prisoners detained under former President Nicolás Maduro in what she described as “a new political moment” since his ouster by the United States earlier this month

It appeared to be an understatement for the former Maduro loyalist now tasked with placating an unpredictable American president who says he’ll “run” Venezuela, while also consolidating power in a government that long has seethed against U.S. meddling.

Rodríguez opened her first press briefing since Maduro’s arrest by U.S. forces with a conciliatory tone. Addressing journalists from a red carpet at the presidential palace, she offered assurances that the process of releasing detainees — a move reportedly made at the behest of the Trump administration — “has not yet concluded.” A Venezuelan human rights organization estimates about 800 political prisoners are still being detained.

The 56-year-old lawyer and political veteran pitched a “Venezuela that opens itself to a new political moment, that allows for ... political and ideological diversity.”