Spanish PM 'hopes' Puigdemont can benefit from amnesty soon

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said that he "hopes" that former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont can have the amnesty law applied to his case soon. 

The Socialist leader assured that his government is complying with “the Brussels agreements” and “the roadmap” agreed with Junts in exchange for their backing of him as Prime Minster.

In response to comments from Junts' spokesperson in Congress Míriam Nogueras, who accused him of failing to comply with the agreements and “blocking” Junts’ proposals. “Do you think you will be able to continue governing?” she asked.

Sánchez gave examples of promoting the Catalan language in Spain and in Europe, and added that he "hopes" that the amnesty “can be applied to all the people who were implicated in one way or another in the events of 2017.”

Despite the fact that the amnesty law was passed in 2024, it has to be applied to individuals on a case-by-case basis. For Puigdemont and some other high-profile independence leaders, the law has not yet been fully applied.

“We still have work to do, but we are doing it,” the Sánchez said in response to the question of whether he can contonue governing.

He pointed out that the amnesty law has already benefited “690 people” and “has the endorsement of the Constitutional Court.”

“We are talking about activists, demonstrators, security forces and bodies and political representatives," he said.

Puigdemont arrest warrant still active

Before the Constitutional Court endosed the amnesty law, the Supreme Court had already signaled that it will not apply the amnesty to some leaders of the Catalan independence movement.

Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena stated that he will maintain the arrest warrant for former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont active.

Llarena disregarded the Constitutional Court's ruling because it does not specifically address the crime of misuse of public funds, one of the charges Puigdemont faces.

Other independence leaders, such as the head of Esquerra Republicana Oriol Junqueras, are still barred from holding public office as part of their sentence, and thus cannot run in elections.