Spanish lawmakers on Tuesday voted on a deeply divisive bill granting amnesty to Catalan separatists, sparking fierce opposition from the right.
Even if passed, the bill would face a series of legal scrutiny before becoming law.
The bill’s passage is a condition set by Catalonia’s hardline separatist party XXSCat in exchange for crucial parliamentary support to allow Pedro Sánchez to begin his new term as prime minister in mid-November. was.
The controversial law applies to people wanted by the justice system over Catalonia’s failed 2017 bid for independence, first and foremost Catalonia’s regional leader at the time who fled to Belgium to avoid prosecution. Applies to ousted JxCat leader Carles Puigdemont.
Lawmakers are scheduled to gather from 3pm on Tuesday (14:00 Japan time) to vote on the document, which will allow members and leaders of the Socialist Party and its radical left coalition partner Smar to vote on the 350-seat chamber. A majority of 178 people must support the proposal. Regional party in Catalonia and the Basque Country.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
The bill is expected to pass on the first vote, but it will face many hurdles before becoming law.
The right-wing opposition People’s Party (PP) has vowed to do everything in its power to delay the bill’s passage in the upper house, where it holds an absolute majority.
It has already amended the Senate’s procedural rules and will seek comments and reports on the bill before amending it and sending it back to lawmakers for a final vote.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijó told 45,000 demonstrators in central Madrid in the latest demonstration against the amnesty bill over the weekend that the government wanted “the worst version. He said, “I replaced immunity with power.”
The bill has been heavily criticized by justice officials for months and also faces a series of legal challenges that could jeopardize its future.
On the eve of the vote, a magistrate in Barcelona said he would widen an investigation into President Puigdemont’s alleged ties to the Kremlin and determine whether he had sought Russian help to ultimately create a state of Catalonia.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
He also said he had found evidence of “close personal ties” between Puigdemont’s aides and Russian nationals “who at the time held diplomatic positions or had connections with Russian secret services.”
The investigation could lead to treason charges against Puigdemont, which is not covered by the amnesty law, the daily El Pais said.
The second legal investigation focuses on Catalonia’s secret protest group Democratic Tsunami, which was behind the blockade of Barcelona’s airport in October 2019, after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled against Catalan separatists over its failed bid for independence. Nine of its leaders were imprisoned.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
In November, the judge overseeing the investigation said Puigdemont had a “leadership” role within the Democratic Party of Tsunami and that the crimes he was facing “could be classified as terrorism.”
Last week, the Socialist Party was forced to amend its amnesty bill to ensure that amnesty also applies to people accused of “terrorism” unless it involves “serious human rights violations”.
Despite accusing the Sánchez administration of having a political agenda, magistrates responded two days later by highlighting injuries sustained by police officers during the 2019 riots to avoid new amendments. .
mg/hmw/bc/smw