Politics · Spain · 4 hrs ago
Spain to review 163,020 nationality cases under memory law
Spain’s 2022 Democratic Memory Law gave Spanish nationality to children and grandchildren of people exiled for political reasons during the Civil War and postwar period.
An official interpretation widened eligibility to descendants of anyone who left Spain between 1936 and 1955, whatever the reason.
That interpretation helped lead to 1.3 million people born abroad applying for Spanish passports.
After appeals by Vox and a judicial association, the Supreme Court ordered the Foreign Ministry to separate cases that meet the law’s stated criteria from those that do not.
A total of 163,020 cases must be reviewed, and the affected people cannot vote until their eligibility is settled.
By 31 August 2026, 369,017 foreign nationals had gained Spanish nationality under the law and a related provision covering children of people who gained nationality under a 2007 law.
There is no evidence or suspicion of electoral fraud, though opposition politicians have raised concerns about possible election manipulation.
Spain’s Directorate-General for Consular Affairs says 163,020 nationality cases must be reviewed under the Democratic Memory Law.
The review follows an order from the Supreme Court to separate cases meeting the law’s requirements from others.
The cases concern people who applied for Spanish nationality as descendants of people who left Spain between 1936 and 1955.
Their voting rights are suspended until it is determined who qualifies, according to El Mundo.
By 31 August 2026, a total of 369,017 foreign nationals had reportedly become Spanish citizens under the law and related provisions.
- Who
- Spain’s Directorate-General for Consular Affairs is to review the cases. The applicants are descendants of people who left Spain.
- What
- 163,020 nationality cases will be reviewed to establish whether they meet the law’s requirements.
- When
- The report was published on 20 October 2026 and updated on 21 October 2026.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- The Supreme Court ordered the foreign ministry to distinguish cases that meet the law’s terms from those that do not.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Spain’s Official State Gazette published the Democratic Memory Law.
The director-general for Legal Security and Public Faith broadened the law’s coverage to descendants of people who left Spain between 1936 and 1955.
The Supreme Court ordered the foreign ministry to separate nationalities granted under the law’s terms from those granted under a broader interpretation.
The article says 369,017 foreign nationals had become Spanish citizens under the law and related provisions by this date.
- Cases to review
- 163,020
- People who applied
- 1.3 million
- Other beneficiaries
- 195,872 people received passports under a provision covering children of people who obtained nationality under the 2007 Historical Memory Law
- Total reported new Spanish citizens
- 369,017 by 31 August 2026
- Law published
- 19 October 2022
1 source
What people are saying
If the grandchildren of Francoists vote, those who suffered exile should vote.