BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The regional president of Catalonia has called an early election for May 12 after his minority government failed to pass a budget for Spain’s wealthy northeast region that includes Barcelona.
The move by Pere Aragonès on Wednesday came on the eve of a vote in Spain’s national parliament on a contentious amnesty law that could pardon hundreds of leaders and supporters of the separatist movement, including those involved in Catalonia’s unsuccessful bid to declare independence from Spain in 2017.
Some separatists leaders were jailed at the time, and others like ex-regional President Carles Puigdemont fled the country.
The amnesty proposal has aroused the ire of millions of Spaniards. Those who oppose the bill believe that the people involved in provoking one of the country’s biggest crises since the transition to democracy after the death of Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975 shouldn’t get away with charges including sedition and rebellion.
It’s very unfortunate that the right wing has weaponized the amnesty vote. Catalonia’s attempt at independence was nonviolent and Spain has a history of violent separatism. Considering that this effort failed and Catalonians have mostly moved on from it the pardon feels like an extremely good move - these politicians have gotten their lumps and it’d be good to encourage nonviolent actions in the future.