Spain is the location of this news. News Headline: Spain sets date for US troops to leave - Catalan separatists' amnesty goes into effect
The divisive amnesty for Catalan separatists has entered into force. The "Law for Instructional, Political, and Social Normalization in Catalonia" is now printed in the Spanish Official Gazette.
In consequence, separatists who have evaded Spain to evade prosecution, including ex-regional leader Carles Puigdemont, may now consider returning home without concern of being captured. However, the judicial system must first lift the arrest warrants, a process which could take some time.
The adoption of the amnesty law in Parliament concluded in late May was preceded by passionate debates and multiple parliamentary votes.
Arrest warrants to continue for now
The High Court of Spain's competent judge in Madrid, Pablo Llarena, declared in his initial response that the arrest orders he issued against Puigdemont and three other separatist politicians in early 2023 would remain in effect for now.
Llarena granted the chief prosecutor and the influence of the affected parties five days to provide their annotations on the "implementation" of the new amnesty law before deciding on the withdrawal of the arrest orders, the Supreme Court notified. The leftist government's press officer, Pilar Alegria, indicated to the press: "The Parliament has done its duty, the government has acted, the law has been enacted and is now in force, therefore it's now the judges' responsibility to carry it out."
This conciliation and other concessions were previously assured by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to securing the votes of two separatist parties in his re-election in November. Both the liberal separatist group of leader Carles Puigdemont Junts and the left-leaning ERC persist to pursue Catalonia's secession from Spain. Sánchez aims to thwart this and resolve the predicament through dialogue.
Uproar and protests
The amnesty proposals generated considerable unrest in Spain's fourth largest EU member state over the past few months. Protestors assembled in their thousands. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijoo of the conservative People's Party labelled the decision a "national disgrace" and an "international shame." Sanchez reacted by alluding to political "corruption," suggesting Feijoo had bought his re-election with the amnesty.
The amnesty covers those who clashed with law enforcement in the context of secessionist undertakings since 2012. Notably, terrorism offenses are excluded. Around 400 people are predicted to profit, including Carles Puigdemont, who, in the autumn of 2017, steered Catalonia into turmoil with an unlawful independence poll and a state split declaration. The previous conservative central government then imposed direct supervision over the region. Puigdemont escorted a handful of his associates and has resided in exile in Belgium ever since.
