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Spain officially passes the Amnesty Law
It’s expected that appeals to the Spanish Constitutional Court will delay its application significantly
Thursday May 30 is a day likely to go down in Spanish history as the highly controversial and endlessly debated Amnesty Act has been passed. The law, which has been hailed a huge “victory” by the pro-independence parties, has finally been adopted after a long parliamentary process and several vetoes.
Once it’s applied in practice – which is likely to be delayed by more appeals – the Ministry of Justice estimates that 372 people with pending criminal cases will be pardoned. This includes former president of the Catalan Government and leader of separatist party Junts, Carles Puigdemont, as well as the president of ERC, Oriol Junqueras.
In short, the Amnesty Act will benefit people with pending charges for the events surrounding the illegal referendum of October 1, 2017 and the subsequent unilateral declaration of independence on the 27th.
And with this milestone move, President Pedro Sánchez has kept to his side of the bargain with the pro-independence parties that guaranteed his second term in office, but which has cost him so dearly in the eyes of the public. He also faced tough opposition from rival party the PP which, in all likelihood, will delay the application of Amnesty through appeals over its legality and unconstitutionality.
Speaking to the press after the result was announced, the independence groups celebrated their victory against a State they believe is responsible for “repression” and “persecution.”
“Today there is no forgiveness, today a part of the conflict that has existed for centuries between two nations is won: this law is not forgiveness or clemency, it is victory, a democratic and collective victory in which we all have some responsibility,” said the Junts spokesperson, Míriam Nogueras, while her ERC counterpart, Gabriel Rufián, stated that "today is a good day for an entire country.”
But the overarching message from the separatists was that the Amnesty Law is only the beginning, and several politicians stressed that the next step will be another independence referendum in Catalonia.
Image: PSOE Andalucía
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