Spanish MPs reject proposed amnesty legislation for Catalan separatists

The suggested legislation, which sparked debate by offering amnesty in return for backing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's governing coalition, was criticized by separatists for not providing sufficient assurances.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Spanish coalition government faced a significant blow when the lower house did not approve a contentious bill to pardon Catalan separatists. In the 350-member parliament, the bill was voted down with 179 against and 171 in favor. In this setting, Sanchez's left-wing minority government relies on a diverse coalition to enact legislation.

The highly polarizing bill, proposed by Sanchez's Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), was essential to gain the support of staunch Catalan separatists for the prime minister's ruling coalition. This legislation aimed to prevent legal proceedings against numerous Catalan activists under investigation or charged for involvement in the 2017 attempt to declare an independent Catalan state, including the exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont.

The bill will be reconsidered in a parliamentary commission and may be presented again for a new vote in the lower house.

Yet, Puigdemont's party, JxCat (Junts per Catalunya or "Together for Catalonia"), retracted its backing for the proposal. Party representatives argued that the bill failed to ensure the elimination of all terrorism-related exceptions, which was a concern as some of its politicians are currently being investigated for alleged crimes linked to terrorism.

- This text is a good starting point.. but it has holes that Spain’s prejudiced justice system can use to leave the amnesty in tatters (...) We are not terrorists - JxCat lawmaker Miriam Nogueras told lawmakers in the debate.

Source: Deutsche Welle