The Spanish Amnesty, the Conflict with Catalonia, and the Rule of Law

Abstract

The Spanish amnesty for the Catalan independence movement is a victory for the rule of law, rather than a defeat. It is not an exemption from punishment otherwise due, but instead a reflection of the fact that the acts now amnestied should never have been subject to criminal prosecution in the first place. It is thus also a way for Spain to return to compliance with its obligations under European and international human rights law.

Keywords

• Catalonia
• Human Rights
• Katalonien
• Rule of Law
• democracy
• judicial independence