Supreme Court of Spain rejects amnesty for Puigdemont!

Supreme Court of Spain rejects amnesty for Puigdemont!

Vienna, Österreich - On April 10, 2025, the Supreme Court of Spain decided that Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan regional president, cannot benefit from an amnestial regulation for Catalan independence activists. Puigdemont, who has been sought in Spain in Spain since 2017, was instrumental in an illegal political project that aimed at the independence of Catalonia. According to the court, Puigdemont financed this project by embezzling public funds. A similar fate suffered Toni Comín, who also appealed against his exclusion from the amnesty. Both could now call the Spanish Constitutional Court to clarify their situation.

Puigdemont has stated that the dismissal of his calling was “no surprise” for him. He accuses the judges of rejecting the Amnesty Act, which was decided in 2024. This law was adopted as a concession by the socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to the independence supporters of Catalonia and is intended to benefit the approximately 400 Catalan activists who were subsequently pursued by the failed recent attempt. However, the responsible judges must decide on the application of the amnesty in each individual case.

The background of the amnesty law

The amnesty law was adopted after a tight coordination in the parliament in Madrid, where it was accepted with 177 to 172 votes. It aims to issue former government officials, citizens who participated in protests and some police officers who were pursued in connection with the Catalonia conflict. The supporters of independence in particular see significant progress in the law. Míriam Nogueras from the separatist party Junts described it as a "democratic and collective victory", while the conservative opposition, led by Alberto Núñez from the People's Party PP, pointed out the project and showed a "dictation of the lawbreakers".

The farewell of the amnesty law was not without resistance. There were months of protests in the conservative opposition that massively attacked the government's procedure. Prime Minister Sánchez needed the support of the separatist parties to secure a majority of government after the election last year, which has further complicated the political situation in Spain. The continuing tensions about the Catalan independence question therefore remain a central topic of Spanish politics.