Spain’s Congress Approves Contentious Catalan Amnesty Law

The Spanish Congress has approved the government’s controversial Catalan amnesty law, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing debate over separatist activities in the region. The law, which seeks to withdraw pending legal action against Catalan nationalists involved in the 2017 referendum and failed independence bid, received narrow majority support with 177 lawmakers voting in favor and 172 against.

The passage of the law comes after six months of parliamentary discussions and is seen as a key move by the Socialist Party (PSOE) of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Once published in the official gazette, judges will have two months to apply the law, which is expected to benefit nearly 400 Catalan nationalists facing legal action since 2011.

One of the most high-profile beneficiaries of the amnesty is Carles Puigdemont, the former president of Catalonia who led the 2017 secession drive and has been in self-exile in Belgium. Puigdemont’s party, Together for Catalonia (JxCat), and the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) demanded the amnesty in exchange for their support of Sánchez’s coalition government.

Despite the law’s passage, opposition parties, including the conservative People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox, have criticized it as preferential treatment for Catalans. The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, called the amnesty “political corruption,” while supporters argue it is a necessary step towards normalizing politics in Catalonia.

The passing of the Catalan amnesty law sets the stage for potential political shifts in the region, with Puigdemont expressing his intention to return to Spain for an investiture vote in the Catalan parliament. The ongoing debate surrounding the law highlights the complex and divisive nature of the issue of Catalan independence within Spanish politics.