What happens in Venezuela when a judge or magistrate decides to comply with the law or confronts the interests of the Executive?
In this episode of EN Detalle, hosted by María Beatriz Manzano Miranda, we analyze the keys and historical perspective of persecution and coercion within the Venezuelan Judiciary.
We analyze two emblematic cases that document the patterns of pressure on the administration of justice:
The Bárbara César Siero case (2026): the former magistrate and former vice president of the Political-Administrative Chamber of the TSJ reveals from exile how the detention of her relatives by the Dgcim was used as a mechanism of coercion to force the signing of political disqualification sentences, including that of María Corina Machado.
The case of Judge María Lourdes Afiuni (2009-2026): more than 16 years after her arrest for complying with a UN mandate and granting a precautionary measure, we review the persecution ordered on national television by Hugo Chávez, the imprisonment, the complaints of torture and the recent full freedom confirmed in 2026.
Audio and research: includes direct testimonies from Bárbara César Siero, Hugo Chávez and María Lourdes Afiuni.
