Spain: The Lower House passed the amnesty bill to the 2017 Catalan separatists

Her lower parliament approved the bill giving amnesty to her separatists who claimed the district’s secession in 2017, led by Carles Putzdemont. The lower House was the last major obstacle to the controversial law that has led to demonstrations and has caused anger to judges. Amnesty is part of the ruling Socialist Party’s agreement with the separatist party of Catalonia Junts per Catalunya in order to secure the latter’s votes to renew Pedro Sanchez’s term as Prime Minister of Spain, following the July 2023 parliamentary elections where no party secured the absolute majority. The bill, approved by 178 votes in favour against 172 against, will now be directed to the Senate for ratification. The upper parliament, controlled by the opposition People’s Party, may delay its final approval by rejecting the bill, which in such a case will return to the lower parliament for a last vote expected to take place in May or June.