Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
Spain’s amnesty law sparks heated debate in European Parliament
euronews (in English)
Follow
22/11/2023
Emotions ran high in the Strasbourg hemicycle on Wednesday as EU lawmakers clashed over Spain’s controversial amnesty law, part of a political deal with Catalan separatists to make Pedro Sánchez prime minister.
Category
🗞
News
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
The controversy over the Spanish amnesty law for Catalan independence-related crimes has
00:06
arrived at the European Parliament.
00:11
Two political groups, the EPP and Renew Europe, requested a debate Wednesday focusing on what
00:16
they consider to be rule of law breaches.
00:19
While they insist that the Spanish government's legitimacy is not being questioned, they say
00:23
that the amnesty law might end the separation of powers in Spain and undermine its judicial
00:28
independence.
00:29
"That's why we are worried about some of the developments.
00:32
What we need is to keep rule of law high, not only in the Eastern European countries,
00:36
but also in the so-called Western and Classical Europe countries.
00:40
And it's obvious that Sanchez is doing this only to get the votes, the seven votes from
00:45
Puigdemont to govern the country.
00:47
So it's about his personal egoism."
00:49
The European Commission is currently evaluating the law and will meet a Spanish representative
00:53
next week to discuss the text.
00:57
CDA-REN, as the commissioner in charge of the analysis, says that the assessment will
01:00
be independent and objective.
01:04
For the socialists, it's just another political battle for the EPP group.
01:09
They say that the text is a way of starting a process of national healing.
01:13
"Ladies and gentlemen, in the face of the greatest territorial crisis in Spanish democracy,
01:19
there are only two paths.
01:20
The failure of the imposition and the threat, or the path of dialogue, understanding and
01:25
reconciliation.
01:26
Mr. Bever, lying is not good.
01:29
And you have lied."
01:32
Born as a deal between Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and two Catalan pro-independence
01:36
parties to usher in his re-election, it's ended up sparking nationwide protests over
01:41
concerns that the country's rule of law is at stake.
01:46
The legislation will grant amnesty to all crimes related to the Catalan independence
01:50
movement between 2012 and 2023, and could benefit hundreds, including Carles Puigdemont,
01:56
the former Catalan president who fled to Belgium after the independence referendum.
02:00
[SWOOSH]
Recommended
2:06
|
Up next
Spain’s parliament passes amnesty for Catalan separatists after region’s leader calls snap election
euronews (in English)
14/03/2024
0:35
Demonstrators rally against amnesty for Catalan separatists in Madrid
euronews (in English)
04/12/2023
2:04
European Parliament discussing Catalonia | DW English
DW (English)
04/10/2017
0:35
Thousands rally in Madrid against controversial amnesty deal for Catalonia’s separatists
euronews (in English)
18/11/2023
1:46
Catalan independence: stalemate
euronews (in English)
23/05/2017
2:10
Spain's weary and still divided voters go to the polls once more
euronews (in English)
07/06/2024
2:25
Spain's electoral gridlock dents Europe's far-right swing but leaves too many questions unanswered
euronews (in English)
24/07/2023
1:05
Spanish People's Party supporters rally against Catalan amnesty bill
euronews (in English)
24/09/2023
2:45
Catalan independence supporters staged a 'clean protest' in Barcelona
euronews (in English)
23/10/2019
1:47
Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont announces he will return to Spain by Thursday
euronews (in English)
07/08/2024
1:15
Catalan separatists demonstrate against return of Spanish police rally in Barcelona
euronews (in English)
10/11/2018
1:47
Spanish PM praises police action in Catalan vote
euronews (in English)
01/10/2017
2:26
Massive Rally in Spain | 170,000 Protests Against the Catalonia Amnesty Law | Oneindia news
Oneindia
19/11/2023
2:15
Catalonia protesters demand release of prisoners
Al Jazeera English
22/09/2017
1:17
EU's top court rejects Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont's claim to MEP status
euronews (in English)
26/09/2024
4:33
Police scuffle with Spanish nationalists in Madrid
Newsflare
17/10/2019
1:10
Police search for Puigdemont after leading Barcelona rally in surprise return to Spain
euronews (in English)
08/08/2024
1:01
Protests continue in Barcelona over Catalan separatists' trial
euronews (in English)
21/02/2019
0:57
1 Million March for Independence in Spain's Catalonia
BNO News
25/10/2018
1:10
Tide turns as Spain’s pro-union Socialists win regional elections
euronews (in English)
13/05/2024
2:00
Catalan separatist leaders walk free from prison
euronews (in English)
23/06/2021
1:22
Catalonia vows to defy Spain court ruling overturning bullfight ban
euronews (in English)
20/10/2016
1:00
Spain: Pedro Sánchez's socialist candidate wins crucial vote for control of parliament
euronews (in English)
17/08/2023
1:41
Boys and Coach Rescued from Cave in Thailand
i24NEWS (English)
11/07/2018
56:05
Syrian Civil War Anniversary Special
i24NEWS (English)
15/03/2018