Spain’s parliament on Thursday gave ultimate approval to an amnesty legislation for Catalonian political leaders charged with crimes following the controversial 2017independence referendum.
The referendum, which passed 90 % in favor and 10 % in opposition to, got here after Spain’s Constitutional Courtroom declared it unlawful. Leaders from Catalonia pushed ahead with the referendum regardless. Spain’s constitutional court docket voided the democratic referendum, and the nation’s excessive court docket introduced that it might be investigating Catalonian officers for sedition.
The EFE reports that the brand new legislation would give amnesty to lots of of pro-independence figures and was supported by Spain’s left-wing coalition authorities, two Catalan separatist events, and different smaller political teams. The laws handed 177-172, with the conservative Common Occasion and right-wing Vox get together opposing it, claiming it was a betrayal of the nation.
The amnesty may benefit high-level politicians who supported independence, together with former Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium following the suppression of the October 2017 breakaway bid. Puigdemont has vowed to return to Spain as soon as the legislation passes regardless of lingering costs that he misused public funds in 2017. It might additionally profit former authorities officers, civil servants, and law enforcement officials collaborating within the secession try or protests. It’s aimed to cowl alleged crimes regarding the Catalan independence motion between November 2011 and November 2023.
The legislation was initially authorized in March by the Spanish parliament’s decrease home, el Congreso de los Diputados, earlier than being vetoed by the Senate, the place right-wing events maintain a majority. On Thursday, the decrease home determined to push via the legislation regardless of issues from the Senate.
The Catalonian independence motion, which focuses on securing an unbiased state for the Catalan folks, has been agitating since 1922. Protests have continued within the space because the suppression of the outcomes of the 2017 independence referendum. Within the 2021 Catalan regional elections, pro-independence events secured round 51 % of the favored vote.
Source / Picture: jurist.org
