Common front of Sánchez, Illa and independentism to demand immediate amnesty from the courts

BarcelonaThe Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) gave a clear endorsement this Thursday to the amnesty law, which has triggered a wave of reactions uniting the independence movement and the Catalan and Spanish governments in a single demand: the immediate application of the law by the Spanish judiciary. The ruling has been received as a "resounding victory," albeit with the caution of knowing that the final executive word rests with the state courts. In the words of former president Carles Puigdemont, "the game will no longer be played in Europe but at the Bernabéu, with the referees and the crowd leaning towards one side." , although with the prudence of knowing that the final executive word rests with the state courts. In the words of former president Carles Puigdemont, "the game will no longer be played in Europe but at the Bernabéu, with the referees and the crowd leaning towards one side."

One of the first to react was the president of ERC, Oriol Junqueras, who questioned "Spanish democracy" if the courts continue to refuse to apply a law now endorsed by the CJEU. The Republican leader praised Europe for "setting limits on abuses" and demanded that the Spanish justice system apply the law "without further delay" in order to "definitively remove the shackles from the independence movement." While warning that the amnesty "does not end the conflict," he expressed a clear desire: "I hope to be able to embrace President Puigdemont very soon in the streets of Girona or Barcelona." In the same vein, the former president of the Parliament, Carme Forcadell, celebrated the European endorsement and assured that the decision "puts the Supreme Court and the National High Court in their place," while former president Pere Aragonès briefly summarized the underlying debate: "Exercising political rights is not a crime."

The return to the Bernabéu

At the Junts headquarters, Jordi Turull has celebrated "a great victory for Catalonia" against the "activists in robes" of the Spanish justice system. However, he has tempered the euphoria about Puigdemont's return and warned that "Spanish justice is not European justice." The next step to certify the president's return is for the Constitutional Court to resolve the appeals for protection regarding the amnesty and issue a clear ruling obliging the Supreme Court to apply it. "May they not go on vacation," Turull asked the members of the TC, who are not expected to take a position until at least September. Lawyer Gonzalo Boye insisted that the decision "closes the legal debate" and that there is "no excuse" not to apply the amnesty, while the President of the Parliament, Josep Rull, urged the Supreme Court to "abandon its path of rebellion."

For his part, former president Carles Puigdemont has claimed the ruling as a "resounding victory" and a "political triumph" against the State, although he has not changed his pessimism regarding the attitude of the Spanish high judiciary: "The amnesty is European, the repression is Spanish." MEP Toni Comín has also joined this argument, demanding that the Spanish justice system "stop prevaricating": "After nine years, it is time to go home."

Institutional joint front

For their part, the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has described the ruling as a "very good piece of news for Catalonia" that, in his opinion, "reaffirms the will of the vast majority of Catalans to move forward into the future". Illa, who repeated the speech in Catalan, Spanish and English, urged the courts to comply with the ruling immediately, and recalled that "its application is mandatory".

From Moncloa, the Minister of Justice, Félix Bolaños, has argued that the law is "impeccable" and that "there is no longer any doubt" about its European legality. The Spanish government claims its "risk" to "resolve the political crisis" and wishes for the amnesty of Puigdemont and Junqueras "as soon as possible". In a harsher tone, Minister Óscar Puente has labelled the judicial resistance as a "European ridicule" and has stated: "It would be convenient for democracy, which crossed the Pyrenees a long time ago, to reach all state institutions".

"The seditious aggression" by Aznar

From the popular ranks, former president José María Aznar has led the rejection of the European resolution and stated that "the seditious aggression against the law must not go unpunished, far from being rewarded". Despite Genoa's "absolute respect" for the CJEU, the PP accuses Sánchez of exchanging "power for impunity". Along these lines, Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, a popular deputy in Congress, has argued that the amnesty "disarms Spain", and Lorena Roldán, spokesperson for the PP in Parliament, has emphasized that it "was not a state decision", but rather "the price for buying votes" for Pedro Sánchez's investiture.

From the far-right, Vox MEP Jorge Buxadé has railed against the CJEU's endorsement, calling Sánchez's pact with "the coup plotters" to remain in power "immoral", and has warned that Vox "will reverse" the amnesty law if it comes to govern. In parallel, Societat Civil Catalana has stated that it "respects" the ruling, but has denounced it as an "auto-amnesty" – even though the CJEU denies it – that "launders embezzlement" for "personal and partisan interest".

Entities and left-wingers

Alerta Solidària has been the first to react, requesting the "immediate dismissal" of the CDR case in the National Court, and has warned that the "final victory" will only be effective with real amnesty. Òmnium Cultural has described the ruling as an "unappealable endorsement" against Spanish courts acting for "political" reasons and has demanded that the TC apply the rule "without delay". Likewise, the ANC has celebrated this "important legal victory": it has demanded "immediate" application for anonymous leaders and activists, has warned that the first cycle of the Process is "politically exhausted" and has called for a "renewed strategy" towards the "Catalan Republic".

From other parties, Jéssica Albiach (Comuns) has celebrated "a new setback" for the Supreme Court on a "good day for democracy". The CUP has called for a "new strategy of democratic confrontation". And, finally, Sumar has celebrated the decision by stating that "the attempts by the right and part of the judiciary to boycott this legislature by sabotaging the amnesty have failed".