The European Parliament in Strasbourg approved a report critical of amnesty laws and pardons driven “by political interests”on Wednesday, June 18. Although it does not explicitly mention any Member State, the debate and tone of the speeches made it clear that the focus was on Spain and the controversial Amnesty Law agreed upon by Pedro Sánchez’s government and the Catalan separatist parties.
The text, passed with a broad majority (405 votes in favor, 210 against, and 36 abstentions), is part of the EU’s 2024 annual report on the rule of law. It warns that “politically motivated prosecutions and amnesty laws and pardon procedures driven by political interests undermine public trust in constitutional principles and the Union’s legal norms.” A warning that resonates deeply within the Spanish context, where the amnesty granted to Catalan separatist leaders has reopened the wounds of the 2017 secessionist coup.
Mentions of “governmental or political interference in corruption investigations” and the affirmation that “no one is above the law” were interpreted as direct jabs at the Spanish government’s strategy. The People’s Party (PP), which promoted some of the included amendments, celebrated the outcome as a “political success” and a “European endorsement against impunity legislation.”
However, the debate on the floor quickly became a new battleground, transferring the domestic political confrontation to the European level. Socialist MEP Javier Moreno defended the government’s actions, stating that Spain is “a full democracy” and accusing the PP of being “the only party convicted of corruption.” On the opposite side, PP MEP Dolors Montserrat denounced “state corruption” under the PSOE. It pointed out that the Spanish attorney general was “handpicked” and is currently under investigation by the Supreme Court. “In any European democracy, this would result in the resignation of the Prime Minister and the calling of elections,” she said bluntly.
Tensions escalated further with the interventions of VOX and the MEPs from ‘Se Acabó la Fiesta.’ Jorge Buxadé declared that Spain no longer has a government but “a criminal gang” and accused Brussels of complicity. Diego Solier, for his part, spoke of a “deliberate collapse of the balance of powers” and accused the Sánchez government of having colonized public institutions.
European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath also participated in the debate, reminding the audience that Brussels is closely monitoring the reform of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Statute in Spain. While acknowledging certain progress, he insisted that the executive must continue working to ensure the independence of the attorney general—a recommendation reiterated annually in the Commission’s reports.
This parliamentary episode, beyond its immediate significance, highlights a broader concern: that the approval of the amnesty in Spain could set a precedent and legitimize other secessionist movements in Europe. Some warn that Pandora’s box of impunity could be opened if the EU institutions fail to exercise firm oversight.
