Catalan president Salvador Illa has called on the Spanish judiciary to apply the amnesty law «diligently, comprehensively and without further delay» following the endorsement of the legislation by the European Union's highest court. In an institutional statement delivered from the Gothic Gallery of the Palau de la Generalitat, Illa described the ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) as a «very good news» for both Catalonia and Spain as a whole, arguing that the decision removes any remaining legal doubts about the controversial measure.
Illa, who spoke in Catalan, Spanish and English during an eight-minute address, said the CJEU's judgment «opens a future of hope and leadership for Catalonia» and insisted that «there is no turning back» after the European court's clear backing. The socialist leader, who heads the regional government, stressed that the majority of Catalan society is committed to «reconciliation, dialogue and coexistence» and reiterated his pledge to govern «for everyone, for the good of everyone and for the future of everyone». He closed his remarks with a direct message to the public: «Europe has spoken. Catalonia moves forward.»
The CJEU's ruling, delivered on Thursday by the Grand Chamber of the court in Luxembourg, addresses preliminary questions raised by Spanish judges about the compatibility of Spain's amnesty law with European Union law. The law, passed by the Spanish parliament in 2024, was designed to grant legal immunity to individuals involved in the 2017 Catalan independence bid, including former regional president Carles Puigdemont, who fled Spain to avoid prosecution. The European court's decision effectively clears the way for the law to be applied by Spanish courts, though further legal challenges are expected.
The amnesty law has been one of the most divisive pieces of legislation in recent Spanish history. It was a key condition set by the Catalan separatist parties Junts and ERC for supporting the investiture of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in late 2023. Critics, particularly from the conservative People's Party (PP), have argued that the law amounts to a political bargain in which Sánchez traded legal privileges for parliamentary support, undermining the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law.
The PP issued a statement on Thursday saying it «respects» the CJEU's ruling but stressed that «no president should exchange power for impunity» and that doing so «against the will of the Spanish people» is «morally unacceptable». The party, led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, described the European judgment as «one more step in a long judicial process» and warned that the government would try to present it as the end of the debate. «They are wrong. The debate was never only legal. The debate is whether a president can negotiate criminal privileges in exchange for a parliamentary majority. And our answer remains no,» the PP said.
Former prime minister José María Aznar also weighed in, speaking at a forum organized by the European People's Party in Madrid. Aznar argued that «the seditious aggression against the law must not go unpunished, let alone be rewarded». He warned that attacks on the constitutional integrity of a member state «transcend national borders and affect the whole of the European Union», adding that defending the unity and constitutional framework of countries like Spain is a shared responsibility of all EU partners.
The CJEU's ruling does not automatically trigger the immediate return of Carles Puigdemont, who remains a fugitive from Spanish justice. His return would require a separate decision by Spain's Constitutional Court and the application of the amnesty by the Supreme Court. Puigdemont's lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, welcomed the European ruling, stating that «justice has given us reason. There is no longer any debate.» The legal team for the former Catalan leader has long argued that the amnesty law is fully compatible with EU law and that its application is a matter of legal obligation, not political discretion.
The amnesty law has already been challenged before the Spanish Constitutional Court, which has yet to issue a final ruling on its constitutionality. The CJEU's endorsement is expected to influence that process, though it does not bind the Spanish court, which operates under a separate legal framework. Legal experts note that the European court's ruling addresses only the EU law aspects of the case, leaving Spanish judges to decide on the law's compatibility with the Spanish constitution.
In Catalonia, the reaction to the ruling has been mixed. While Illa and his government have welcomed the decision as a step toward normalization, separatist parties have expressed cautious optimism. Junts, the party led by Puigdemont, said the ruling confirms that the amnesty law is «legally sound» and called for its immediate application. The more moderate ERC also praised the decision but urged all parties to focus on political dialogue rather than legal battles.
The Spanish government, for its part, has refrained from making any official statement on the ruling, though sources close to the prime minister's office indicated that the executive views the CJEU's decision as a validation of its legislative approach. The government has consistently defended the amnesty law as a necessary tool to move past the political crisis triggered by the 2017 independence referendum, which was declared illegal by Spanish courts.
Political analysts point out that the CJEU's ruling, while legally significant, does not resolve the deep political divisions that the amnesty law has exposed. The PP and other conservative forces have vowed to continue their opposition, both in the courts and in the political arena. The law remains a central issue in Spanish politics, with potential implications for future elections and the stability of Sánchez's coalition government.
As the legal process unfolds, the focus now shifts to the Spanish judiciary, which must apply the amnesty law in individual cases. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the application of the law to Puigdemont and other separatist leaders in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is still deliberating on the broader constitutional challenges. The outcome of these proceedings will determine whether the amnesty law achieves its stated goal of closing a painful chapter in Spanish politics or whether it deepens the existing fault lines.
