What's happened
Spain's Supreme Court has opened a terrorism investigation into Carles Puigdemont, a Catalan separatist leader, complicating the amnesty law proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The investigation follows Puigdemont's party's blocking of the bill, which aimed to grant immunity to those involved in the Catalan independence movement. The court's decision could impact the future of the amnesty legislation and Sánchez's government, which relies on Puigdemont's party's support.
Why it matters
The Supreme Court's terrorism investigation into Puigdemont and the challenges faced by Spanish lawmakers in passing an amnesty bill are significant developments in Spain's political landscape. The outcome of these events could have far-reaching implications for the legal status of separatist leaders and the stability of Sánchez's government.
What the papers say
The Supreme Court's decision to investigate Puigdemont has raised tensions around the amnesty bill, with Puigdemont's party insisting on the removal of exceptions related to terrorism. While Politico highlights the court's assertion of terrorism in the investigation, The Times emphasizes the setback this poses for Sánchez's government and the amnesty law.
How we got here
The investigation into Puigdemont stems from his involvement in the Catalan independence movement and the failed 2017 push for secession. Sánchez's government sought to pass an amnesty law to grant immunity to those prosecuted for separatist activities, but faced opposition from Puigdemont's party over terrorism-related clauses.
More on these topics
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Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó is a Catalan pro-independence politician and journalist from Spain. Since 2019 he has served as a Member of the European Parliament.
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Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula.
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Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón is a Spanish politician serving as Prime Minister of Spain since 2 June 2018. On 7 January 2020, Pedro Sanchez was confirmed by the Congress of Deputies as Prime Minister with a lead of just two votes, heading the first coa