Puigdemont: Amnesty Law Highlighting Cracks in Spain's Rule of Law

Former president of the Generalitat and prominent leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, made clear this Friday that the decision by the Constitutional Court to endorse the Amnesty Law has left little room for prevarication by the Supreme Court. In a video posted on X and reported by Europa Press, Puigdemont asserted, "The Supremes' prevaricating margin is narrowing. I know it doesn’t matter to them because they know that no one will dare to judge the Supreme Court judges who continue to obey the Kings' order to act against all of us." During his remarks, Puigdemont cautioned that with every attempt to stretch the boundaries of the Rule of Law, the cracks within the system deepen, ultimately becoming unsustainable not only for Catalans but also for the judges themselves. He noted that the Constitutional Court (TC) has confirmed what has been evident for over a year: the amnesty law is legally valid. However, he expressed concern that the real issue lies with the Supreme Court judges who refuse to enforce the law simply because they disagree with its political implications. He lamented, "In a Rule of Law, judges apply the laws, but in the Spanish state, they interpret laws in a manner suitable to their preferences and sabotage those they oppose politically. This is a democratic scam in Spain." Puigdemont classified the current state of affairs as yet another instance of the systemic failings of the Spanish monarchical regime. Yet he emphasized that the disregard for the TC's decision by the Supreme Court should not overshadow the significance of the Constitutional Court's ruling. According to Puigdemont, the amnesty law is essential but insufficient to resolve the ongoing political conflict between Catalonia and the rest of Spain, as well as to mitigate the severe repression faced in the past. He insisted that rather than bringing closure to the crisis, the law has opened a more profound one, as it stands approved and constitutional yet is not being enacted. "The amnesty is a political decision made in Congress, not in the courts, and no Spanish party wanted it, including the current president of the Generalitat who opposed it firmly. It is a conquest, a concession wrested from Spain by the independence movement and those who have protested over the years alongside the Spanish radical factions." Additionally, Puigdemont highlighted that the amnesty law has brought relief to hundreds of families affected by the previous repression. However, he pointed out that certain sectors within the judiciary remain reluctant to implement this law, which he believes is now irreversible. Thus, as the political landscape in Spain continues to evolve, the implications of the Amnesty Law and its enforcement—or lack thereof—remain a focal point of contention. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2