Spain definitively adopts amnesty legislation for Catalan separatists | EUROtoday

On Thursday, May 30, Spanish deputies definitively adopted an amnesty legislation for Catalan separatists. This flagship measure of the left-wing authorities of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will enable the return of separatists nonetheless in exile after the 2017 secession try, resembling Carles Puigdemont.

At the top of a really tense session of round two hours and in an electrical ambiance marked by insults, the amnesty legislation was permitted by 177 votes to 172 (absolutely the majority being 176).

This vote by the Congress of Deputies, the place Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has an absolute majority because of the help of the 2 Catalan independence events, is the end result of a protracted battle which has dominated and radicalized Spanish political life for the reason that elections. final July.

The deputies had already adopted the amnesty invoice on March 14, however the Senate, managed by the right-wing opposition, vetoed it two months later, sending the textual content again to the decrease home, which due to this fact had the final phrase.

The People's Party (PP), the primary opposition social gathering, and the far-right Vox social gathering delivered a final stand earlier than the vote, denouncing a “political corruption”.

For their half, the 2 Catalan independence events warned that this amnesty was not the top of their struggle for independence, however a easy step.

“Forgiveness more powerful than resentment”

This vote is “a battle in the centuries-old conflict between the two nations”Catalan and Spanish, declared the spokesperson for Carles Puigdemont's social gathering (Together for Catalonia), Miriam Nogueras, referring to “a historic day”.

Gabriel Rufian, his counterpart within the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), the opposite Catalan independence social gathering, warned that the ” next stop “ on the highway to independence was the group of a referendum.

Mr. Sanchez says the amnesty goals to finish the instability born from the abortive try by Catalonia (northeast of Spain) to unilaterally proclaim its independence in October 2017, when the regional authorities was led by Mr. Puigdemont, who has since lived in exile.

“In politics as in life, forgiveness is more powerful than resentment”commented Mr. Sanchez on the social community. “Spain is more prosperous and more united today than in 2017”, he added. He didn’t attend the controversy, getting into the chamber simply earlier than the vote.

The regional authorities of Mr. Puigdemont had organized, on 1^er October 2017, a self-determination referendum, regardless of its ban by the courts.

Nearly a month later, the native parliament unilaterally declared the area's independence, instantly resulting in its placement underneath supervision by the Spanish authorities and the dismissal of the native authorities.

The most important separatist leaders had been then imprisoned or fled overseas.

These occasions had been one of many worst crises skilled by Spain since its return to democracy after the top of the Franco dictatorship in 1975.

But this amnesty measure, which ought to profit round 400 folks – firstly Mr. Puigdemont – is above all the value that Mr. Sanchez needed to pay to be returned to energy in November.

The two Catalan independence events, beginning with that of Mr. Puigdemont, had demanded it in return for the help of their fourteen deputies, with out which Mr. Sanchez had no probability of remaining prime minister.

Since then, the PP has been up in opposition to a legislation based on it “unconstitutional”in opposition to which he organized quite a few demonstrations.

” You lied ! »

The opposition never fails to recall that Mr. Sanchez himself had expressed his refusal of an amnesty during the campaign for the July 23 elections, before parliamentary arithmetic forced him to change his mind.

“You lied to the Spanish, because you promised not to!” »launched Thursday the leader of the PP, Alberto Nuñez Feijoo.

“You are going to amnesty your investiture partners simply to stay in power”for his part, affirmed the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, also accusing Mr. Sanchez of wanting to divert public attention from ” Corruption “ and also reproaching him for the recent recognition of the State of Palestine. Mr. Abascal's words triggered a violent reaction from the extreme left and socialist benches, from which “fascists!” » Or “pro-Nazis!” »

Mr. Puigdemont had said, during the campaign for the Catalan elections of May 12, that he hoped to be present for the investiture debate of the new government, which must take place no later than June 25.

But it is unknown whether the arrest warrant against him will be lifted in time. The Minister of Justice, Félix Bolaños, indicated that the law would be promulgated in ” the subsequent days ” – the courts will then have a maximum of two months to apply it.