Several Venezuelan civil society organizations have issued a statement expressing deep concern regarding the selection processes for the heads of the Attorney General's Office and the Public Defender's Office. According to these organizations, these appointments are being carried out without respect for the minimum standards of transparency, citizen participation, impartiality, and accountability.
The organizations point out that this decision undermines the plurality and independence of the process, and eliminates citizen participation.
The list of candidates was published on March 16, 2026. However, to date, the regulations for the process, the approved schedule from February 27th, and the evaluation criteria for the candidates' qualifications have not been disclosed, according to the NGOs.
"The absence of these clear rules limits public scrutiny, restricts informed citizen participation, and generates distrust. Furthermore, it opens the door to discretionary decisions instead of selections based on merit, technical criteria, and integrity," they add.
NGOs demand transparency and plurality in the appointment of the new Attorney General and Public Defender.
"The process of appointing the highest authorities of the Attorney General's Office and the Public Defender's Office raises concerns due to the lack of transparency and citizen participation, which are essential guarantees for the appointment of independent, qualified individuals with integrity..."
AI Brief
Several Venezuelan civil society organizations have issued a statement expressing deep concern over the selection processes for the heads of the Attorney General's Office and the Public Defender's Office. According to these organizations, these appointments are being carried out without respect for the minimum standards of transparency, citizen participation, impartiality, and accountability. The organizations state that this decision undermines the plurality and independence of the process and eliminates citizen participation. The list of candidates was published on March 16, 2026. However, to date, the regulations for the process, the approved schedule from February 27, and the evaluation criteria for the candidates' credentials have not been disclosed, according to the NGOs. "The absence of these clear rules limits public scrutiny, restricts informed citizen participation, and generates distrust. Furthermore, it opens the door to discretionary decisions instead of selections based on merit, technical criteria, and integrity," they add. "The process of appointing the highest authorities of the Attorney General's Office and the Public Defender's Office raises concerns due to the lack of transparency and citizen participation, which are essential guarantees for appointing independent, qualified, and ethical individuals," the organizations stated in the document. The organizations warn that these shortcomings put at risk the independence of key institutions for access to justice and the protection of human rights. They suggest that these appointments may be more influenced by political loyalties than by the professional qualifications of the candidates. The NGOs that signed the statement are: Acceso a la Justicia, AlertaVenezuela, Asociación para la Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (ASO DDHH), Aula Abierta, Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (CEJIL), Centro de Justicia y Paz – Cepaz, CIVICUS: Alianza Global para la Participación Ciudadana, Fundación para el Debido Proceso (DPLF), Justicia Encuentro y Perdón (JEP Venezuela), Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, and the Office in Washington for Latin American Affairs (WOLA). They called on the National Assembly to guarantee transparency, citizen participation, impartiality, and accountability in the selection process, in accordance with the Constitution and international standards. They also urged the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, United Nations mechanisms, and the countries of the region to monitor and oversee the process, due to its impact on institutional independence and the protection of human rights.