The controversial amnesty law in Spain remains a focal point of attention from Brussels. The European Commission expresses serious concerns and openly questions the regulation, as it “looks like a self-amnesty.” This assessment is based on a preliminary question from the European Court of Auditors to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), highlighting the urgency of the issue.
Why Brussels Criticizes the Spanish Amnesty Law
The European Commission does not question that the regulation “violates the economic interests” of the EU. Instead, the criticism focuses on the fact that the beneficiaries of the amnesty were “decisive” for its adoption. This suggests a purely political interest that does not serve the general good. Experts agree that such a “self-amnesty,” where those in power secure their own legal immunity, contradicts the principle of the rule of law.
The lawyers of the European Commission point out in a report published by El Español: “If there is support for the notion that self-amnesties, in which those holding political power intend to protect themselves by guaranteeing their legal immunity, violate the principle of the rule of law, it seems that the same criterion should be applied when those in government guarantee the impunity of their partners in exchange for parliamentary support.”
Rapid Adoption and Societal Division: Further Criticisms
Another point of criticism is the rapid and opaque adoption of the law. The entire process was carried out without public consultation, which was already criticized by the Venice Commission. This approach, according to the Commission, has caused “a division” in Spanish society and at the institutional level. The law followed an urgent procedure, circumventing important reports from advisory bodies.
The Venice Commission already emphasized that “the amnesty has deepened a profound and virulent division in the political class, in institutions, in the judiciary, in academia, and in Spanish society.” The Spanish authorities have ignored the Commission’s recommendations to take the necessary time for meaningful dialogue to achieve social and political reconciliation.
The PP’s Reaction and the Importance for the Rule of Law
The Partido Popular (PP) has reaffirmed its position after this information became known. Miguel Tellado, PP spokesperson in Congress, welcomed the Commission’s support for Genoa’s arguments against the law: “We will continue to work to defend our opinion, and we are pleased that the Commission supports our position.” He described the law as “corrupt” and emphasized that the Commission’s report confirms the criticism long expressed by the PP: “This law is a self-amnesty that violates the rule of law, that it does not seem to respond to an objective of general interest recognized by the European Union, and that the beneficiaries of this law are precisely those who were fundamental for its adoption here in Congress.”
The developments surrounding the amnesty law in Spain and Brussels’ critical stance underline the importance of the rule of law and transparent legislation in the European Union.
