Law against Fascism, Neofascism and Similar Expressions

The Law against Fascism, Neofascism and Similar Expressions (Spanish: Ley contra el Fascismo, Neofascismo y Expresiones Similares), also known as the Law against fascism or the Anti-fascism law, is a 2024 Venezuelan bill intended to "establish the means and mechanisms to preserve peaceful coexistence and public tranquility" and "protect Venezuelan society from the emergence of any expression of a fascist, neo-fascist or similar nature". On 2 April, Delcy Rodríguez presented it to the V National Assembly of Venezuela, controlled by the administration of Nicolás Maduro; it passed its first reading on the same day, in record time. The law, which would need a second hearing, would ban certain organizations, messages on social media, and create penalties including increased sentences for organizations that promote what Maduro's government defines as fascism or neo-fascism, with features of racism, chauvinism, classism, moral conservatism and neoliberalism.

Maduro's government says the law is needed to address what it calls unconstitutional violence encouraged by some sectors of society in the last two decades. Rodríguez referred to the 2014 and 2017 Venezuelan protests, stating that "extremist sectors" (referring to the parties who make up the majority opposition) had caused "economic and social genocide" in the country. Critics and non-governmental organizations say the law would be used to limit opposition to Maduro's government ahead of the July 2024 Venezuelan presidential election; an article in Spain's El País stated that the law "opens a new door for the control at the discretion of the Government of political freedoms and expression in Venezuela, amid a tightening of the persecution against opponents, journalists and critics".