The European Union’s top court upholds a Spanish amnesty law covering people involved in Catalonia’s independence bid tied to a 2017 referendum. Multiple outlets report that the ruling finds the Spanish measure compatible with EU law, resolving a legal challenge to the amnesty passed under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.
The law, introduced in 2024, applies to Catalan separatists and political figures associated with the independence movement around the failed secession attempt. The decision is presented as a symbolic and political boost for Sánchez, with Deutsche Welle and Bloomberg noting that the measure supported his position in the context of Spain’s 2023 political situation.
Opposition and protests are also highlighted across the reports. Deutsche Welle notes that the amnesty prompted major demonstrations, while Bloomberg describes the court’s decision as favoring Sánchez amid political controversy. The outlets broadly agree that the court’s ruling confirms the amnesty’s standing under EU rules while leaving the broader political debate in Spain unresolved.
