Venezuelan dean questions judicial reform, anti-extortion hotline

Juan Carlos Apitz, dean of the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), has voiced skepticism regarding the government's initiatives to reform the justice system and combat extortion.

Apitz described the government's campaign for judicial reform as "infected with populism." He believes the initiative aims to create an illusion of change for citizens without delivering tangible results. "I am convinced that it is more of the same," Apitz stated in media remarks, expressing his view that the proposed reforms will not fundamentally alter the current system.

His comments come in the wake of an announcement by Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, about a new national telephone hotline dedicated to reporting extortion and corruption by police, prosecutors, or judges. The initiative was launched alongside a formal public consultation for structural reforms to the country's criminal justice system.

Rodríguez detailed the "0800-Extorsión" hotline, emphasizing its role in protecting the reputation of law-abiding public officials. However, Apitz questioned its utility, particularly in the context of political persecution. He raised concerns about whether the line could be used to report instances where the government allegedly extorts political prisoners' families to secure their surrender, suggesting the hotline might be co-opted for political ends.