Brussels, Feb 1 (EFE).- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended a draft legislation bill on Thursday, describing it as “brave, reparative, and constitutional” in offering amnesty to Catalan independence supporters.
Urging its passage in parliament without any changes, Sanchez addressed publicly for the first time the opposition from Junts that led to the failure of the amnesty law in Congress earlier this week.
“Catalan independence is not terrorism. With this draft law, I am convinced, and as the courts will ultimately conclude, all Catalan independence supporters will be amnestied because they are not terrorists,” he told reporters at the end of a European Council meeting in Brussels.
He said he remained steadfast in rejecting proposed changes by Junts and highlighted the broad support the law received in parliament.
He said the law “is brave” for seeking total reconciliation and emphasized its reparative and constitutional nature.
The bill could not get parliamentary approval after it was defeated by 179 votes to 171 in the 350-seat Congress.
Former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium to avoid arrest after the unilateral declaration of independence in 2017, could have been one of the most high-profile beneficiaries.
However, it was Puigdemont’s center-right Junts party that voted against the draft legislation over alleged insufficient legal protection for those being investigated for terrorism-related crimes. The bill goes back to a parliamentary committee.
Responding to questions about negotiations with Junts, the prime minister emphasized the need for temperance and firmness.
Asked about the legislative challenges and criticisms from the opposition, Sánchez expressed confidence in his government’s ability to manage the crisis.
He criticized the lack of alternatives from the opposition and highlighted the efforts of his government to address constitutional and territorial crises through dialogue, negotiation, and agreement.
“With the draft law we have right now, the independence movement, which I do not consider terrorism, will be granted amnesty, allowing us to overcome all legal consequences of mistakes they also made,” Sánchez said.
Reflecting on Catalonia’s situation since 2017, he credited the government’s efforts, including pardons, for facilitating coexistence.
He said the current amnesty law was a “definitive step” contributing to total reconciliation in Catalan society.
“As I have said on many occasions, the total normalization of Catalonia will not happen overnight, but my will to normalize the situation in Catalonia is total,” Sánchez said. EFE
bb-ssk