Amnesty plans 'ripe' and Sumar's 'global approach' right one, government says

The Catalan government believes the plan for an amnesty for actions related to the independence push over the last decade is "progressing properly and is ripe." 

Presidency Minister Laura Vilagrà told Ser Catalunya radio that the Catalan executive also agrees with the "global approach and analysis" of the amnesty proposal presented by left-wing Spanish group Sumar on Tuesday.

The amnesty package is being negotiated "on the correct terms" and is "far along," Vilagrà said. 

She reiterated that the government takes it for granted that an amnesty will be implemented, calling it "a starting point."  

She said it's about recognizing that Spain went too far in its actions to suppress Catalan independence, and to bring the subject back to a political, rather than judicial, path. 

Sumar's amnesty proposal includes cases regarding the referendum's organizers and protesters, while excluding many incidences of police violence. 

Commenting on Sumar's presentation of the report, Vilagrà said: "It's not about going and explaining things publicly, but about closing a good deal." 

Pro-independence parties Esquerra and Junts have made the amnesty law one of their red lines in negotiations with Spain's Socialists to reelect Pedro Sánchez as prime minister.

Future referendum report 

Vilagrà also addressed the issue of a future referendum based on a report from the government's advisory council after it was published on Wednesday by El Periódico. 

The study "is not concluded," the minister insisted. "The complete report cannot be published when the government has neither assessed nor validated it," VIlagrà added.