The Spanish government delays the entry into force of the amnesty law
Carles Puigdemont’s lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, has denounced what he considers an intentional maneuver by the Spanish government with the aim of delaying the entry into force of the amnesty law in the process. This law was definitively approved this Thursday in the Congress of Deputies and now awaits the signature of King Felipe VI to be published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and applied by judges (https://www.softcatala.org/resum -of-texts-in-Catalan/).
The decision to delay the signing of the law
Boye criticizes that the Spanish government, instead of bringing the law quickly to the king to sanction it, leaves it in a drawer. According to the lawyer, this decision is motivated by electoral interests, since there are European elections and the constitution of the new Parliament of Catalonia that arose on 12-M (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en -Catalan/).
The possibility of signing the law electronically
Felipe VI, who is currently on an official trip to El Salvador, could sign the law electronically from there. However, the Spanish government has decided not to send it for electoral reasons. Boye argues that this demonstrates the government’s fear of President Puigdemont’s electoral push and his intention not to be harmed in the European election campaign and in the constitution of the Parliament (https://www.softcatala.org/resum -of-texts-in-Catalan/).
Making the Spanish government responsible
Gonzalo Boye blames the Spanish government, especially the PSOE, for the delay in the entry into force of the amnesty law. The lawyer accuses the State Executive of carrying out actions that border on illegality and criticizes that the Ministry of the Presidency has not brought the law to be signed by the king. Boye claims that the king will sign the law as soon as it is presented to him and that someone is messing with the king (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
The position of the lawyer of Oriol Junqueras
Oriol Junqueras’ lawyer, Andreu Van den Eynde, shares a similar opinion to that of Boye. In an interview, Van den Eynde has stated that he does not envisage the law going to the BOE after the European elections and that it should be published immediately.
The return of Carles Puigdemont
Gonzalo Boye has reiterated that Carles Puigdemont will return to Catalonia in the context of the possible investiture attempt he makes when the new Parliament of Catalonia is established on 12-M. The lawyer has made it clear that the return of Puigdemont is not subject to the application of the amnesty, but to the investiture. Boye has stated that the king could sign the law from anywhere and has criticized the nerves in Madrid in the face of this situation (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/ ).
Judges and amnesty
When asked if Judge Pablo Llarena intends to apply the amnesty, Boye launched a rhetorical question. The lawyer has argued that it is logical for judges to apply an existing law. Boye has stressed that it would be an international laughing stock if an amnesty law that has been recognized globally as an achievement of Puigdemont is published and then not implemented. He added that this would give an image of a banana republic in front of European counterparts.
