The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), based in Luxembourg, validated on Thursday July 16 the law adopted in 2024 by the Spanish government of socialist Pedro Sánchez which granted an amnesty to Catalan separatists after the aborted attempt at secession of Catalonia in 2017.
“Union law does not oppose this amnesty law” which had deeply divided the Spaniards, ruled the CJEU in a press release, considering that it “(aimed) at reducing institutional and political tensions as well as facilitating a scenario of reconciliation”.
In exchange for its support validated in November 2023, the Junts party of Carles Puigdemont had obtained from the socialists the commitment to have Parliament vote on this amnesty law for its leaders and activists prosecuted for their involvement in the secession attempt.
Around 400 people affected
Indicted by Spanish justice in 2018 for his role in this attempt, Carles Puigdemont, who chaired the regional government of Catalonia, fled Spain and has since lived in exile in Belgium.
In its decision rendered on Thursday, the CJEU also considered that the amnesty decreed in 2024 by Pedro Sánchez and which should primarily concern Carles Puigdemont did not harm the “financial interests of the European Union”, contrary to what the Spanish judges affirmed. The supreme court had in fact refused to apply the amnesty measure to the separatist leader concerning the charge of “embezzlement”.
Around 400 people were able to benefit from this amnesty, but Carles Puigdemont remains under arrest warrant in Spain due to this refusal of amnesty on embezzlement. He remains awaiting a decision from the constitutional court on the subject.
