Carles Puigdemont (second from proper), exiled Catalan separatist chief and Spanish member of the European Parliament. Archive | Picture credit score: AFP
A controversial amnesty legislation for Catalan separatists concerned in a failed 2017 secession try got here into impact on June 11 in Spain, and judges at the moment are tasked with implementing the measure.
The legislation, which was permitted by Parliament on Could 30 and is predicted to have an effect on round 400 individuals, got here into pressure after its publication within the Official Gazette of Spain. Probably the most outstanding and controversial beneficiary is Carles Puigdemont.
The previous president of Catalonia led the 2017 secession marketing campaign within the rich northeastern area of Spain earlier than going into self-exile in Belgium, the place he has resided since. An amnesty would permit him to return to Spain.
The judges may have two months to use it on a case-by-case foundation.
Many judges oppose the amnesty and should refer it to the Spanish Constitutional Court docket or the European Court docket of Justice.
“A brand new battle begins,” Jordi Turull, secretary common of Puigdemont’s hardline separatist get together JxCAT, mentioned on X, predicting that “the appliance of the legislation” by some judges “is not going to be simple, however in the end it would we’ll get.” .
Catalonia’s different main separatist get together, the extra reasonable ERC, mentioned round 30 of its members had requested amnesty.
Amongst them is Oriol Junqueras, who was sentenced to 13 years in jail for his function within the secession try earlier than being pardoned by the federal government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in 2021.
The battle over the amnesty legislation has dominated Spanish politics for the reason that common election in July 2023. Proper-wing critics have organized common road protests towards it.
Sánchez, who had opposed the legislation previously, agreed to grant the amnesty in trade for successful the assist of Catalan separatist events in parliament. That assist was important for him to be re-elected for an additional four-year time period after an inconclusive common election.
Underneath Puigdemont’s management, Catalonia’s regional authorities went forward with a referendum on independence on October 1, 2017, though the measure had been banned by the courts.
Nearly a month later, Catalonia’s regional parliament declared independence, prompting Spain’s central authorities to impose direct rule on the area.
The occasions triggered the nation’s greatest political disaster for the reason that creation of democracy following the loss of life of dictator Normal Francisco Franco in 1975.
