Spanish congress passes amnesty law for Catalan separatists

Source: The Guardian

Spanish congress passes amnesty law for Catalan separatists

Passing of bill will come as relief for PM Pedro Sánchez, who has gambled his political future on the concession

Sam Jones in Madrid
Thu 14 Mar 2024 14.30 GMT
First published on Thu 14 Mar 2024 12.51 GMT

Spain’s congress has approved the controversial and divisive Catalan amnesty bill that regional separatists demanded in return for helping the country’s Socialist-led coalition government back into office after last year’s inconclusive general election.

The passing of the bill, which was approved by 178 votes to 172 in Spain’s 350-seat parliament, will come as a relief for the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who has gambled his political future on the concession.

Thursday’s vote was held amid heightened political tensions, and a day after Catalonia’s president, Pere Aragonès, called an early regional election after the defeat of his government’s budget in the Catalan assembly.

Although the conservative People’s party (PP) won last July’s snap election, it was unable to attract enough support to oust the Sánchez government, even with the backing of the far-right Vox party.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/14/catalan-separatists-amnesty-law-spain