Gonzalo Boye, the Chilean-born lawyer leading Carles Puigdemont’s defense, has accused Pedro Sánchez of misleading his own party and the country. Spain’s courts are nearing a decision that could allow Puigdemont, the exiled former Catalan president, to return home after nine years abroad.
Boye says the Supreme Court is close to applying the amnesty to Puigdemont, which would clear the way for his return. The decision could come in late October, depending on how quickly the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court act. On one point, he is certain: "Once the amnesty is applied, Puigdemont will return to Spain."
The Constitutional Court is set to review the amnesty for malversación on October 6, 2026. Its decision will be communicated to the Supreme Court promptly after the ruling, information from reports by EFE and RTVE, with El País also reporting on the matter.
Boye frames the dispute as political as well as legal. He claims Spanish courts have opposed the amnesty from the start, forcing his team to build its case on European law. He says the government is not seeking real reconciliation. Instead, he accuses Sánchez of trying to control the story and protect his own interests. In Boye’s view, this legislature has done more harm to Spain than the 2017 independence crisis.
Boye’s criticism also reaches beyond the amnesty. He calls the government’s housing decrees "juridically unsustainable" and says Junts will back only policies that directly help Catalonia. His stance comes amid uproar over housing policy, including the reported earlier defeat of basic decrees and pressure on ministers.
Boye himself is under pressure. He points to a series of legal cases opened against him since he took on Puigdemont’s defense, describing them as a "parapolitical structure" intended to weaken his work. Boye was acquitted in a recent money-laundering case. Another case, opened on Spain’s election day, was dismissed for lack of evidence. His past remains a flashpoint: Boye was convicted in 1997 for his role in the kidnapping of Emiliano Revilla. He still denies the charge and says he regrets what happened but will not apologize to ETA’s victims.
El Confidencial and El Mundo identify the interpretation of the amnesty law’s exception for those who obtained personal financial gain as a basic legal issue. This was the basic reason the Supreme Court previously refused to apply amnesty to several figures, including Puigdemont.
Boye says only a return to normal politics and respect for European law can resolve the Catalan conflict. In the coming weeks, Spain’s institutions will face a test: whether they are ready to move on or whether old battles will continue. He argues that the government’s focus on controlling the story, rather than pursuing real reform, leaves Spain vulnerable to further division.
