Separatist Catalans in Spain have received final approval for the amnesty bill

The controversial bill containing amnesty for Catalan separatists in Spain has been approved in parliament, receiving final approval. The bill, which includes amnesty for Catalan separatists, was presented by the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), the party of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and was voted on in the lower house of the parliament, the 350-seat Congress of Deputies. The bill was approved with 177 ‘yes’ votes against 172 ‘no’ votes. The bill, which has sparked debates and protests in the country, has finally received approval after months of waiting in the Congress and Senate. It is expected that the bill will be published in the Official Gazette tomorrow, thus becoming law. Prime Minister Sanchez, following the vote, shared on his social media account, ‘Just as in life, in politics too, forgiveness is stronger than resentment. Today, Spain is more prosperous and united compared to 2017. We are moving forward on the path of coexistence.’ The bill includes granting amnesty to approximately 400 Catalan politicians and representatives of civil society who have been convicted or are currently undergoing legal proceedings following the illegal referendum held on November 9, 2014, and the referendum on October 1, 2017, in the context of pro-independence efforts in Catalonia. Among the individuals covered by the bill is Carles Puigdemont, the former President of the Catalan Autonomous Government and leader of the Together for Catalonia (Junts) Party, who organized an illegal referendum in 2017. Parliament faced a challenging process Prime Minister Sanchez had proposed an amnesty bill in exchange for the support of two Catalan parties (Together for Catalonia and Republican Left of Catalonia) in parliament to be able to form a government following the election held on July 23. The initial bill was rejected in a vote held in the lower house of the parliament, the Congress of Deputies, on January 30, due to the objection of the Together for Catalonia (Junts) Party. The bill was sent to the Justice Commission, and after amendments were made, it was reconsidered on March 14 and this time it was approved. The bill was then sent to the Senate, where right-wing parties hold the majority, and was rejected in early May, before being returned to the Congress of Deputies.