Spanish Democracy on Trial

Since October 2023, thousands of Spaniards have been marching through Madrid's centre to protest against an amnesty law for the Catalan separatist leaders associated with the referendum for Catalunya’s independence in 2017, found unconstitutional.

 

The Socialist Party, guided by the Spanish Primer Minister Pedro Sánchez, proposed the amnesty in exchange for support from the two Catalan separatist parties in return for helping the country’s Socialist-led coalition government back into office after last year’s inconclusive general election.

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In the wake of the amnesty agreement, which was approved in March by 178 votes to 172 in Spain’s 350-seat parliament, Spain finds itself at a crossroads, with democracy itself seemingly on trial. Demonstrations have erupted across the country, with tensions running high and far-right groups inciting violence amidst the chaos. These far-right factions, fueled by nationalist fervour, have escalated confrontations and sowing discord within Spanish society. Their presence has raised concerns about the fragility of democratic values and the potential for further polarization.