Spain’s parliament approved a controversial law Thursday that grants amnesty to hundreds of Catalan separatists facing prosecution for their involvement in an unsuccessful 2017 secession bid.
The legislation passed by a narrow margin on a vote of 177-172. Spain’s left-wing coalition government and two Catalan separatist parties supported the measure, but the conservative Popular Party and far-right Vox were against it.
Catalan separatists are part of the Catalan independence movement that seeks the independence of the Catalonia region from Spain.
Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont could benefit from the new amnesty law. Puigdemont, who is a fugitive from Spanish law, fled to Belgium after he led the illegal breakaway effort in October 2017.
The law could also help hundreds of citizens who participated in the secession attempt.
Experts have expressed concern over the legislation, warning that it will be applied on a case-by-case basis, creating inequality among Spanish citizens.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez proposed the amnesty law last year to gain the parliamentary support of two Catalan separatist parties — Junts and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya — whose support was necessary for him to keep his position following an inconclusive election.
"In politics, like in life, forgiveness is more powerful than resentment," Sánchez posted on social media after the vote. "Today Spain is more prosperous and more united than in 2017. Living in harmony is the way forward."
Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters.
