Venezuelan lawmakers on Thursday postponed the adoption of a landmark amnesty bill designed to end the use of courts to crack down on dissent after failing to reach an agreement on how to apply it.
Thousands of opposition supporters poured into the streets of Caracas to demand the release of all remaining political prisoners before debate on the bill began.
The amnesty is expected to cover all charges brought against dissidents who opposed the rule of ousted leader Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez over the past 27 years.
Members of the National Assembly backed the bill on a first reading last week and had been expected to adopt it on Thursday after a second reading.
But it hit a snag, with pro-government and opposition lawmakers clashing over an article requiring would-be beneficiaries to appear in court to request the amnesty.
Opposition member Nora Bracho said that the requirement was “completely unnecessary” and said the amnesty should apply automatically to all the crimes covered by the law.
Pro-government lawmaker Iris Varela, however, argued it was important for beneficiaries to “acknowledge crimes they have committed” before having the cases against them closed.
Lawmakers agreed to continue the debate on February 19.