The Spanish Parliament finally passed an amnesty law. This means that about 400 Catalans who were persecuted by the judiciary after the failed secession attempt could be pardoned. Among them is former regional president Puigdemont.
In Spain, a controversial amnesty law for supporters of Catalan independence was recently passed. Parliament in Madrid approved the proposal on Thursday by 177 votes to 172. The amnesty is intended to benefit about 400 Catalan separatists who were tried by the Spanish judicial system after a failed secession attempt in 2017. Among them is former regional president Carles Puigdemont, who now wants to return from Exile.
The amnesty law was a concession from Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to the pro-independence parties, which are represented by two parties in Parliament in Madrid. After last year's elections, Sanchez relied on their support to achieve a government majority. The amnesty plans sparked months of protests from the conservative opposition.
The law was passed in the House of Representatives in March. But because the Senate rejected it in mid-May, the bill returned to the House, which approved it by just two votes. In addition to the socialists and Catalans, after a heated discussion that lasted about two hours, the Basque nationalists and the left represented in the Sanchez government also agreed. (APA/AFP)
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