Spain’s parliament has granted final approval to an amnesty law designed to benefit Catalonian political leaders involved in the controversial 2017 independence referendum. The referendum, which saw a 90 percent vote in favor of independence, was declared illegal by Spain’s Constitutional Court, yet Catalonia’s leaders proceeded regardless. Following the referendum, actions against those leaders included charges of sedition and the voiding of referendum laws by Spain’s high court (JURIST 2024).
The new law, which passed narrowly with a vote of 177-172, intends to offer amnesty to high-level politicians, including former Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont, who left for Belgium amid the fallout from the referendum. The legislation is also expected to clear other government officials, civil servants, and police officers involved in the secession attempts and protests from alleged crimes relating to the independence movement spanning from November 2011 to November 2023 (EFE).
Initially approved by Spain’s lower house, el Congreso de los Diputados, in March, the bill was later vetoed by the Senate, where right-wing opposition holds the majority. Despite the Senate’s pushback, the lower house advanced the law again, showcasing the political divisions within Spain. The right-wing Popular Party and Vox party vehemently opposed the bill, framing it as a betrayal of the nation.
To view the full article, visit JURIST – News.