http://dx.doi.org/10.59704/a95a973aeeb1b6f2 https://verfassungsblog.de/the-spanish-amnesty-the-conflict-with-catalonia-and-the-rule-of-law/ The Spanish Amnesty, the Conflict with Catalonia, and the Rule of Law Torbisco Casals, Neus Krisch, Nico eng 2024-03-20 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 Catalonia Human Rights Katalonien Rule of Law democracy judicial independence Human Rights Katalonien Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-SA 4.0 The Spanish amnesty for the Catalan independence movement is a victory for the rule of law, rather than a defeat. It is not an exemption from punishment otherwise due, but instead a reflection of the fact that the acts now amnestied should never have been subject to criminal prosecution in the first place. It is thus also a way for Spain to return to compliance with its obligations under European and international human rights law.