Latest news with #Puigdemont
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spain's top court upholds amnesty law for Catalan separatists
By Joan Faus BARCELONA (Reuters) -Spain's Constitutional Court on Thursday upheld core elements of a disputed amnesty law enacted by the Socialist government after Catalonia's failed 2017 secession bid, under which more than 300 people have been pardoned. "This is magnificent news for Spain," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters in Brussels. He reiterated his view that the amnesty served "to guarantee Spain's unity as well as our development and prosperity and coexistence between citizens and regions". The amnesty was agreed in 2023 between Sanchez's Socialist Party and two Catalan separatist parties in exchange for their support of his minority coalition in a parliamentary vote that allowed him to stay on as prime minister. The Constitutional Court's ruling offers some relief for Sanchez while allegations of corruption involving senior officials ensnarl his Socialist Party. "Amnesty is not banned by the Constitution, and its adoption, when it responds to an exceptional situation and a legitimate public interest, may be constitutionally admissible," ruled the court, where a majority of judges had been nominated by the Socialists. The conservative opposition has argued the legislation is unconstitutional and was passed solely as a Socialist manoeuvre to stay in power. The top court ruling, which stems from an appeal lodged by the conservative People's Party, does not directly benefit former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who lives in self-imposed exile in Belgium. The judge handling Puigdemont's case has said the amnesty does not apply to him as he is also being sued for embezzlement, an accusation he denies. Puigdemont has appealed the judge's decision, but the Constitutional Court will not rule on the matter until later this year or next, according to a court spokesperson. Puigdemont was Catalonia's head of government in 2017 when the region unilaterally declared independence from Spain, prompting Madrid to impose direct control.
Reuters
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Spain's top court upholds amnesty law for Catalan separatists
BARCELONA, June 26 (Reuters) - Spain's Constitutional Court on Thursday upheld core elements of a disputed amnesty law enacted by the Socialist government after Catalonia's failed 2017 secession bid, under which more than 300 people have been pardoned. "This is magnificent news for Spain," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters in Brussels. He reiterated his view that the amnesty served "to guarantee Spain's unity as well as our development and prosperity and coexistence between citizens and regions". The amnesty was agreed in 2023 between Sanchez's Socialist Party and two Catalan separatist parties in exchange for their support of his minority coalition in a parliamentary vote that allowed him to stay on as prime minister. The Constitutional Court's ruling offers some relief for Sanchez while allegations of corruption involving senior officials ensnarl his Socialist Party. "Amnesty is not banned by the Constitution, and its adoption, when it responds to an exceptional situation and a legitimate public interest, may be constitutionally admissible," ruled the court, where a majority of judges had been nominated by the Socialists. The conservative opposition has argued the legislation is unconstitutional and was passed solely as a Socialist manoeuvre to stay in power. The top court ruling, which stems from an appeal lodged by the conservative People's Party, does not directly benefit former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who lives in self-imposed exile in Belgium. The judge handling Puigdemont's case has said the amnesty does not apply to him as he is also being sued for embezzlement, an accusation he denies. Puigdemont has appealed the judge's decision, but the Constitutional Court will not rule on the matter until later this year or next, according to a court spokesperson. Puigdemont was Catalonia's head of government in 2017 when the region unilaterally declared independence from Spain, prompting Madrid to impose direct control.
Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Spain's top court upholds amnesty law for Catalan separatists
FILE PHOTO: Pro-independence protesters hold a big Estelada (Catalan separatist flag) during a demonstration on Catalonia's national day of 'La Diada' in Barcelona, Spain, September 11, 2024. REUTERS/Bruna Casas/File Photo BARCELONA - Spain's Constitutional Court on Thursday upheld core elements of a disputed amnesty law enacted by the Socialist government after Catalonia's failed 2017 secession bid, under which more than 300 people have been pardoned. "This is magnificent news for Spain," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters in Brussels. He reiterated his view that the amnesty served "to guarantee Spain's unity as well as our development and prosperity and coexistence between citizens and regions". The amnesty was agreed in 2023 between Sanchez's Socialist Party and two Catalan separatist parties in exchange for their support of his minority coalition in a parliamentary vote that allowed him to stay on as prime minister. The Constitutional Court's ruling offers some relief for Sanchez while allegations of corruption involving senior officials ensnarl his Socialist Party. "Amnesty is not banned by the Constitution, and its adoption, when it responds to an exceptional situation and a legitimate public interest, may be constitutionally admissible," ruled the court, where a majority of judges had been nominated by the Socialists. The conservative opposition has argued the legislation is unconstitutional and was passed solely as a Socialist manoeuvre to stay in power. The top court ruling, which stems from an appeal lodged by the conservative People's Party, does not directly benefit former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who lives in self-imposed exile in Belgium. The judge handling Puigdemont's case has said the amnesty does not apply to him as he is also being sued for embezzlement, an accusation he denies. Puigdemont has appealed the judge's decision, but the Constitutional Court will not rule on the matter until later this year or next, according to a court spokesperson. Puigdemont was Catalonia's head of government in 2017 when the region unilaterally declared independence from Spain, prompting Madrid to impose direct control. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Arab News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Spain closes Russia probe against Catalan separatist leader
MADRID: The Spanish Supreme Court on Thursday said it had closed a treason investigation against Catalonia's exiled separatist figurehead Carles Puigdemont over alleged Russian interference in the region's failed 2017 secession bid. The worst crisis Spain had experienced in decades saw the wealthy northeastern region hold a secession referendum and proclaim a short-lived declaration of independence whose aftershocks continue to reverberate. A judge from a lower court placed Puigdemont under investigation for high treason to determine whether he had contacts with the Kremlin or tried to gain Russian support for Catalan independence in return for financial compensation. The Supreme Court said in a statement it had 'decided to close the proceedings' opened into the 'alleged Russian interference in the Catalan independence process.' Spain's top court last year shelved a separate investigation against Puigdemont for a terrorism charge related to 2019 protests in Catalonia against prison terms handed out to separatist leaders for their role in the secession bid. Puigdemont has lived in exile in Belgium since the crisis and remains Spain's most-wanted fugitive as he was excluded from the remit of an amnesty law introduced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's leftist government to heal tensions. But his Junts per Catalunya party wields outsized influence in national politics as its seven MPs often determine whether Sanchez's minority government passes legislation in the hung parliament.
