CARACAS DAILY — 25 MARCH 2026
Villegas Withdraws Defensor Candidacy; Rodriguez Announces Washington Delegation; Treasury Issues Diplomatic License
Venezuela Dispatches Diplomats to Washington for Embassy Reopening
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a delegation will travel to Washington this week to reestablish diplomatic presence. US Treasury Department issued General License 53 authorizing transactions for Venezuelan missions.
Ramon Maniglia Confirmed as Ambassador to Colombia
National Assembly approved Maniglia Ferreira as envoy to Bogota, replacing Carlos Martinez. Rodriguez government moves to normalize regional diplomatic posture.
Ernesto Villegas Withdraws Candidacy for Defensor del Pueblo Post
Former minister retracted nomination after controversy over his role disseminating state propaganda about Juan Pablo Pernalete's 2017 death. National Assembly extended candidate review 48 hours.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: Ernesto Villegas withdrew his candidacy for Defensor del Pueblo 24 March following sustained controversy over his apology for systematically lying about the 2017 death of protester Juan Pablo Pernalete. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a diplomatic delegation will travel to Washington this week to reopen Venezuela's embassy, hours after the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 53 authorizing transactions for Venezuelan diplomatic missions on U.S. soil. The Asamblea Nacional extended the Amnistia oversight commission 30 days and designated Arianny Seijo Noguera as Procuradora General after Reinaldo Munoz resigned. State media reported 8,084 "libertades plenas" granted under amnistia, while Foro Penal documented 503 political prisoners as of 23 March. END SUMMARY.
