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Venezuela has entered a new phase in its political transition after Tarek William Saab, the long-serving Attorney General and prominent ally of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro, resigned from his post on Wednesday, the National Assembly confirmed.
Saab’s departure comes less than two months after the United States military operation that removed Maduro from power and dramatically reshaped the country’s political landscape.
During a legislative session, Assembly officials read letters submitted by Saab, in which he formally relinquished his duties.
“The Assembly has received communications signed, first, by citizen Tarek William Saab by which he submits his resignation from his position as Attorney General of the Republic,” the announcement stated, reflecting a formal end to his nearly nine-year tenure, which began with his appointment in 2017.
Saab’s time as Venezuela’s top prosecutor was contentious. He was widely criticised by political opponents and human rights advocates for defending government actions and failing to hold security forces to account. Critics accused his office of overlooking alleged abuses by law enforcement under Maduro’s rule, and Saab himself resisted framing detained opposition figures as political prisoners.
Earlier this month, he told Reuters that he preferred the neutral term “detainees” for those arrested for political activities, rejecting the label of “political prisoners” and defending his interpretation of their detentions as linked to documented actions.
The resignation also coincides with broader legal reforms being pursued by the legislature under interim leadership. A limited amnesty bill was passed just days earlier, aimed at releasing individuals detained for protest-related activities and signalling a cautious political opening as the country navigates its post-Maduro transition. Human rights groups have criticised this law for excluding serious offences and failing to fully address cases of political incarceration.
Within hours of stepping down, the National Assembly moved to fill key roles vacated by Saab and the outgoing ombudsman. Interim appointments are expected while committees work on selecting permanent replacements for both offices.
Saab’s resignation marks a significant moment in Venezuela’s unfolding political realignment, as authorities under acting President Delcy Rodríguez attempt to stabilise governance and respond to domestic and international calls for reform in the wake of Maduro’s removal.
