The past Sunday in Catalonia, the issue of amnesty for participants in the independence process took center stage as the Senate vetoed the law that proposed these measures. The PP, main opposition party, strongly opposed the amnesty law, citing concerns about its impact on democracy. The Socialists, on the other hand, highlighted their electoral victory in Catalonia as a validation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s policies. Despite the Senate’s rejection of the law, it is expected to be definitively approved by Congress on the 30th. The amnesty issue, which had been a major point of contention in Spanish politics in recent months, was surprisingly absent from the Catalan election campaign.
The PP, despite initially seeming to back down on the conflict over the amnesty law, ultimately launched a strong attack on the measure during the Senate debate. Allegations of “democratic fraud,” “political corruption,” and threats to democracy were leveled against the amnesty law, without acknowledging the results of the Catalan elections or the setback for the independence movement. Other opposition parties, such as Vox and UPN, also criticized the law, each highlighting different aspects of its negative impact. The debate in the Senate was heated, with little focus on the actual results of the Catalan elections.
The left-wing parties, seizing on the opportunity to criticize the PP, accused them of manipulating the Senate proceedings to delay the approval of the amnesty law. Terms like “pantomime” and “worst tactics of failed losers” were used to describe the actions of the PP in the Senate. The Catalan and Basque representatives in the Senate also condemned the actions of the PP, labeling the lower house as a stronghold of the party. Despite the intense debate, the focus remained on the political implications of the amnesty law rather than the electoral results.
The independentist parties in the Senate did not directly address the election results, but there were indications of disappointment from the ERC party, which suffered losses in the Catalan elections. While Junts preferred not to engage in the debate, maintaining their focus on the referendum for self-determination, ERC hinted at their efforts regarding the amnesty law. Calls for recognition of a “plurinational state” were also made, indicating the parties’ continued commitment to their respective political agendas. Overall, the discussions in the Senate reflected the ongoing tensions between the different political factions regarding the issue of amnesty and its implications on democracy.
The Socialist party members in the Senate expressed enthusiasm during the debate, with one member highlighting historical positions of the right-wing parties on various social issues. This led to a debate on the changing views of political parties over time, particularly on issues like amnesty. The exchanges in the Senate highlighted the deep divisions within Spanish politics and the ongoing challenges faced by the government in navigating these complex issues. Despite the intense political debate, the focus remained on the implications of the amnesty law and its potential impact on the political landscape in Spain.
