The Congress approves the amnesty law today: a key decision for Catalonia

The Congress approves the amnesty law today In a key day for Spanish politics, the Congress is preparing to vote on the Amnesty Law, a regulation that aims to pave the way for institutional, political, and social normalization in Catalonia, specifically granting amnesty to all those involved in independence movements since November 2011. The legislative process has been intense, with the Senate voting against the initiative, leading the law to be urgently brought to the Lower House. Now, in the Congress Plenary, the final parliamentary vote will take place, requiring an absolute majority of at least 176 deputies to overturn the Senate's veto. The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, is closely monitoring this session, and it is expected that he will participate in the vote, which will be a roll-call vote. It is worth noting that, if desired, the President has the possibility to address the Plenary without time limit. The debate in the Congress Plenary is expected to be intense, with the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, defining the party's position. The PP has been critical of the amnesty, urging Sánchez to withdraw it and call for elections so that the Spanish people can endorse this measure. The opposition describes this law as an act of "political corruption." The duration of the session in Congress is estimated at around two hours, with each deputy having seven minutes for their interventions. The vote will be by roll-call, meaning that each member of Congress will have to pronounce their vote out loud. On the other hand, Vox has expressed its opposition to debating this law in the midst of the European Parliament election campaign, arguing that this compromises the neutrality of public powers. The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, will have the opportunity to express his party's stance during the debate. From Junts and ERC, Catalan independence parties, will also participate in the Plenary, with Jordi Turull and Oriol Junqueras being prominent figures in the delegation attending the session. The PSOE, on the other hand, defends the amnesty as part of its policies for Catalonia, pointing out that they have been endorsed by the population in recent regional elections. Amid political tensions and disagreements over the amnesty, the day in Congress is shaping up to be a crucial moment for the future of the legislature and the relationship between the central government and Catalonia. With a decision that will set the course of Spanish politics, the vote on the Amnesty Law reflects the divisions and challenges facing the country in terms of unity and reconciliation.