The law was part of a package of concessions agreed between Pedro Sánchez and the Catalan separatist party Junts
MADRID – The EU’s highest court is expected to close a tumultuous political chapter in Spain’s recent history with a judgment this week on the country’s controversial and contested amnesty for Catalan separatists.
The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) will rule on 16 July whether legislation in 2024 to pardon hundreds of Catalan separatist lawmakers and activists organising or taking part in the illegal and unilateral 2017 Catalan referendum breaches European law.
Despite a ban on the vote, 92% of Catalans voted “Yes” to independence on a 43% turnout, triggering Spain’s worst political crisis in decades since the fascist era.
The controversial Amnesty Act was passed in the Spanish parliament by a razor-thin margin and was part of a package of concessions agreed between Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, and the Catalan separatist party Junts to secure his parliamentary majority and his position as national leader.
