The Plenary of the National Assembly unanimously approved, in its first reading, the Draft Law Repealing the Law Approving the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) representative for Aragua state, Roy Daza, presented the report on the bill and stated that this decision is fundamental for Venezuelan democracy, arguing that the ICC has become an institution serving purposes unrelated to the objectives for which it was created.

Daza pointed out that instead of guaranteeing justice and due process, the ICC has become an entity instrumentalized by de facto powers of economic, political, and cultural nature. He noted that this has been one of the key reasons for proposing Venezuela’s withdrawal from the organization.

He added that under the principle of complementarity, the Venezuelan state has demonstrated the will, capacity, and readiness to carry out all investigations requested by the ICC. However, he argued that Venezuela faces a situation difficult to accept, as it represents an attempt to replace national laws with international ones.

The parliamentarian affirmed that such impositions may apply in other countries, but not in Venezuela, which he described as a free, sovereign, and independent nation.

ICC's 'judicial colonialism'

The move follows the ICC’s announcement to close its office in Caracas, claiming “lack of real progress” in cooperation on ongoing investigations, including the so-called “Venezuela I” case into alleged crimes against humanity. Caracas condemned the closure, describing it as evidence of the ICC’s selective approach and an instrument of “judicial colonialism.”

Officials in Caracas argue that the ICC has been politicized, serving the interests of global powers rather than impartial justice, and that international law should not supersede national legislation.

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