Spanish Congress Blocks Catalan Separatist Amnesty Law Amidst Fractures Over Exiled Leader's Fate
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Spanish Congress rejects proposed amnesty law for Catalan separatists. The law could have enabled the return of fugitive ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont.
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One Catalan separatist party, Junts, voted against the law because it did not go far enough to protect Puigdemont from legal challenges if he returns to Spain.
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Opposition from Junts and other parties means the amnesty law did not get the majority needed to pass. This highlights fractures in the Spanish government's alliance with Catalan separatists.
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A key sticking point was whether to include terrorism cases like the investigation into pro-independence group Tsunami Democràtic in the amnesty.
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The bill will be re-drawn and could still pass, but faces ongoing opposition that could block it in the Senate or lead to legal challenges.