The Constitutional Court of Spain has refused to temporarily lift the disqualification from public office of four prominent participants in the Catalan independence process: Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Turull, Raül Romeva, and Dolors Bassa. All were convicted of embezzlement in connection with the events of 2017, when Catalonia held an independence referendum deemed illegal.
The judges concluded that suspending the sentence before a final decision on the appeal would be premature. In their view, this would amount to ruling on the merits of the case without considering all the circumstances. The published court rulings state that there are not sufficient grounds for urgent intervention.
The question of whether the Amnesty Law applies to these individuals remains unresolved. The Supreme Court previously refused to grant amnesty for episodes linked to embezzlement and upheld lengthy bans from public office for Junqueras, Turull, Romeva, and Bassa. Following this, the convicted individuals appealed to the Constitutional Court, seeking to overturn the decision and temporarily suspend their disqualification.
Court decision
During its deliberations, the Constitutional Court issued three separate rulings, signed by judges José María Macías, César Tolosa, and Cándido Conde-Pumpido. The rulings stress that the appeal will be considered on its merits in the coming months, but until then, the sentence will remain in effect.
The judges stated that they see no grounds for urgent action, as the situation does not require immediate intervention. In their view, suspending the punishment could set a precedent where a substantive decision is made before all procedures are completed.
Case background
Junqueras, Turull, Romeva, and Bassa were sentenced to more than 12 years of disqualification from public office. Their involvement in organizing and holding the October 1, 2017, referendum, as well as the subsequent declaration of Catalonia’s independence, led to their prosecution. After the adoption of the amnesty law, the Supreme Court refused to apply it to the episodes related to embezzlement, sparking renewed debate in political and legal circles.
The appeal filed with the Constitutional Court specifically challenges this Supreme Court decision. The convicted individuals insist that the amnesty law should also apply to their cases and their sentences should be overturned. However, until the court issues its final ruling, they will remain barred from holding office.
Next steps
In the coming months, the Constitutional Court plans to consider the appeal on its merits. Until then, Junqueras, Turull, Romeva, and Bassa will remain suspended from public office. The court’s decision could have a major impact on the political situation in Catalonia and throughout Spain.
It is still unclear when a final decision will be made. Judges emphasize that the case requires a thorough examination of all circumstances and strict adherence to procedural norms. The question of granting amnesty to those convicted in the procés case remains one of the most contentious issues in contemporary Spanish politics.
