New law granting amnesty to backers of Catalan independence goes into effect across Spain.
A new law for amnesty of those who supported Catalan independence has gone into effect in Spain. It was announced in the country's Official Gazette this week and will now be put into practice. However, the exact implementation of the law, which could affect around 400 people, depends on the decisions of individual judges.
Judges have until July to determine if they'll apply the amnesty and may even refer the matter to higher courts, including the Spanish Constitutional Court or the European Court of Justice. Some judges have already expressed their opposition to the regulation.
With uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the amnesty, Jordi Turull, the secretary general of the Junts per Catalunya party (formerly led by exiled Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont), called it a new fight. Applying the law through certain judges, Turull said, is "not easy." He expressed confidence that the goal would eventually be reached.
The amnesty aims to protect Catalan activists who were prosecuted by the Spanish justice system after the failed attempt at secession by the wealthy northeastern region of Spain in 2017. Those affected include Puigdemont himself, who has lived in Belgian exile since then.
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Despite the amnesty act, some judges in Spain have expressed opposition to its implementation, potentially influencing its application. The amnesty is intended to provide acceptance for Catalan independence advocates who were previously prosecuted for supporting the failed secession attempt in 2017, including prominent figure Jordi Turull and exiled Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont. Ultimately, the power to decide upon the implementation of the amnesty lies with individual judges within the Spanish judicial system.
