Various political and social groups connected to the National Assembly and the Venezuelan government formed a commission to discuss activities related to the country this year. President Nicolás Maduro bypassed formal procedures, signaling that his political campaign had effectively begun even before an official date was set. He announced plans to build five million homes, to deploy outreach missions addressing inequality, and to boost youth development programs. A package of measures aimed at speeding up economic recovery was also presented, alongside a renewed commitment to reduce state bureaucracy. The message of strength and firmness was delivered with a blunt approach toward opponents. Critics warn that the move signals a new wave of repression spreading across multiple fronts, including the state apparatus. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and her office, known as OHCHR, recently faced expulsions by Venezuelan authorities, sparking international concern. Maduro declared, appealing to supporters, that imperialists should understand they have no leverage over Venezuela any longer.
Since the start of the year, security and intelligence forces have detained 32 people, including soldiers, civilians, and a human rights activist. Attorney General Tarek William Saab linked these detentions to four alleged plots against Maduro that were thwarted by the security services and the armed forces.
The expulsion of OHCHR representatives ended a week marked by heightened political tension. Foreign Ministry officials described the move as unacceptable, arguing that it undermined protections for public forces. OHCHR had been established years earlier after a visit by a former commissioner, Michele Bachelet, to Caracas to review complaints of extrajudicial killings during the 2017 crisis. Tensions escalated after the arrest of the lawyer Rocio San Miguel. OHCHR pressed for due process guarantees, while the U.S. State Department criticized the organization for allegedly defending those seeking to overturn the constitutional order and to incite violence in Venezuela. Saab dismissed NGOs that supported San Miguel’s disappearance as fictional personalities, echoing past rhetoric used by several regional authorities. He asserted that there was a valid criminal warrant and a legitimate investigation.