Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
Spain's Court of Auditors applies amnesty to Catalan independence case
Spain’s Court of Auditors has applied the amnesty to former Catalan leaders facing claims over public spending linked to Catalonia’s independence campaign.
Those named include former regional presidents Carles Puigdemont and Artur Mas, and former deputy president Oriol Junqueras; reports differ on whether 33 or 35 people were covered.
The case concerned spending between 2011 and 2017, including the 2017 independence referendum and Catalan government offices abroad.
The court found that the spending did not use European Union funds, the condition that could have prevented the amnesty from applying in this case.
The claims sought more than €4 million, and the ruling means the defendants do not have to repay the money.
The decision follows a July ruling by the EU’s top court that the amnesty could apply if EU financial interests were not affected.
Esquerra Republicana welcomed the decision and is calling for the amnesty to be applied in other open cases involving Catalan independence leaders.
Spain’s Court of Auditors applied the amnesty law and cleared those facing accounting liability over public spending linked to the Catalan independence process.
The ruling ends claims that the defendants repay funds and cancels guarantees totalling €4,283,438.23.
The court said the case had not established that EU financial interests were affected.
The case covered spending linked to the 1 October 2017 referendum and Catalonia’s activities abroad.
Those cleared include former Catalan leaders Carles Puigdemont, Oriol Junqueras and Artur Mas.
- Who
- Spain’s Court of Auditors cleared 35 people, including Carles Puigdemont, Oriol Junqueras and Artur Mas.
- What
- It applied Spain’s amnesty law, ending claims for repayment of public funds and cancelling guarantees.
- When
- 14 October 2026.
- Where
- Spain; the case was heard by the Court of Auditors.
- Why
- The court found no established effect on EU financial interests, allowing the amnesty to apply.
Tribunal de Cuentas
Sociedad Civil Catalana
Amnesty
Tribunal de Cuentas
The court applied the amnesty, finding that EU financial interests had not been shown to be affected.
Sociedad Civil Catalana
The group opposed applying the amnesty and sought repayment of more than €5 million.
Evidence
Tribunal de Cuentas
The court said the group had not established the necessary involvement of EU funds.
Sociedad Civil Catalana
The group argued that the defendants should still repay the money.
Spain approved the amnesty law, and the Court of Auditors’ councillor referred questions to the EU court.
The EU court ruled that the amnesty could apply if EU funds were not affected.
The Court of Auditors applied the amnesty, cleared the defendants and cancelled the guarantees.
- Guarantees cancelled
- €4,283,438.23
- People facing claims
- 35
- Referendum
- 1 October 2017
- Referendum spending examined
- €883,695
- Previous repayment request by the prosecution
- €3.1 million
4 sources
El Tribunal de Cuentas aplica la amnistía a Puigdemont, Mas y otros 31 encausados por los gastos del ‘procés’
ERC celebra que la amnistía del Tribunal de Cuentas acaba con un “sufrimiento que ha sido una condena anticipada”
El Tribunal de Cuentas se ve obligado a aplicar la ley de amnistía y perdona más de 4 millones a los independentistas por el procés
What people are saying
it must be concluded that the alleged accounting liabilities that could arise from the facts under trial should be declared extinguished
there has been no evidence, in relation to the facts tried here, of an effect on the financial interests of the European Union