JxCat's Jordi Turull Rejects Pardon, Calls for Amnesty Instead
Jordi Turull, the Secretary General of the Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) party, has communicated his firm stance against accepting a pardon for his 12-year disqualification sentence. In a letter addressed to Justice Minister Félix Bolaños, Turull articulated his intention to decline the option of clemency, stating that accepting a pardon would only serve to legitimize what he views as the unjust actions of the Supreme Court's judges.
In his correspondence, which has been made public by JxCat, Turull specifically requested, 'I must request you, Mr. Minister, to communicate to the other members of the Government and to the officials of your Ministry my express wish to request the denial of my pardon for the 12-year disqualification sentence.' Instead, he emphasized the importance of granting him an amnesty, which he believes is the more appropriate course of action.
This letter is part of a broader context regarding the ongoing discussions about the legal statuses of various Catalan leaders, including former Vice President Oriol Junqueras and former councilors Raül Romeva and Dolors Bassa, who are similarly situated and have endured substantial legal ramifications.
Amidst this backdrop, the Prosecutor's Office has expressed support for the pardon request, as indicated in a report by Deputy Prosecutor María de los Ángeles Sánchez Conde. Her recommendation to the Second Chamber urges the approval of the pardon claim, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal and political discourse surrounding the Catalan independence movement.
Turull’s decisive refusal of a pardon reflects the ongoing tensions and deep divisions in Spanish politics regarding the treatment of Catalan leaders. His call for amnesty highlights the continued frustrations among supporters of the independence movement, many of whom feel that justice has not been served for the political actions taken during the 2017 independence referendum.
As these events unfold, they are likely to further ignite debates concerning Catalonia's right to self-determination and the broader implications for Spain's legal and political frameworks.
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