Spain’s parliament gives final approval to amnesty law for Catalonia’s separatists
PBS NewsHourJun 02
Spain Passes Amnesty Bill for Catalan Separatists
Above: Deputies celebrate new amnesty law during the plenary session in the Congress of Deputies on May 30, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Image copyright: Juan Naharro Gimenez/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
On Thursday, the Spanish parliament passed legislation allowing amnesty for hundreds of Catalan secessionists who took part in the unsuccessful 2017 bid for independence. The bill passed the Spanish parliament in a 177 to 172 vote.
The conservative Popular Party (PP) and right-wing Vox opposed the measure, while Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's left-wing government coalition, two Catalan parties, and several smaller parties supported it.
The Spin
Narrative A
The passage of the amnesty law is a victory for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his left-wing coalition, which will grant amnesty to hundreds of Catalan separatists who were involved in the failed 2017 secession bid. It also means that Sanchez delivered on a promise to the pro-Catalan parties, whose support he needed to remain in power in November of last year. The legislation will take a few months to go into effect, but the amnesty law is popular in Catalonia and could help Sanchez form a regional government there.
Narrative B
The opposition views Prime Minister Sanchez's amnesty as illegitimate and unconstitutional. The parliament should never have adopted it. We should prosecute individuals who have committed the act of secession to the fullest extent of the law and give them appropriate punishment for their unlawful actions. The amnesty not only creates inequality among Spanish citizens by favoring some over others, but it also involves an exchange of power for privileges and impunity. That's not acceptable.