Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
Spain’s Constitutional Court to decide whether to hear voting-rights appeal
Spain’s Constitutional Court will decide whether to hear an appeal by the country’s ombudsman over voting rights.
The appeal concerns 160,000 Spanish citizens naturalized under the “law of grandchildren”, a law involved in the case.
The Supreme Court suspended their voting rights, and its proceedings are still open.
The ombudsman says the suspension should be lifted and has asked for an immediate order.
The full bench must first decide whether the appeal is premature because ordinary court proceedings have not ended, or whether it can consider the case now.
If it takes up the appeal, it could lift the suspension immediately or handle the case through the ordinary process.
The decision could affect their right to vote in the 29 November general election.
Spain’s Constitutional Court’s full bench will decide whether to admit an appeal by the Ombudsman over the suspension of voting rights for 160,000 newly naturalised Spaniards.
The appeal challenges a Supreme Court decision that suspended their right to vote under the so-called “law of grandchildren.”
The court must decide whether the appeal is premature because ordinary legal proceedings are still open, or whether to consider its substance.
The Ombudsman has asked the court to restore voting rights immediately, without first hearing the other parties.
The rights could affect the 160,000 people’s ability to vote in the general election scheduled for 29 November.
- Who
- Spain’s Constitutional Court full bench will decide whether to admit the appeal. The appeal was filed by the Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo.
- What
- The court will consider an appeal seeking to overturn the suspension of voting rights for 160,000 naturalised Spaniards.
- When
- The decision was referred to the full bench on Monday, 19 October 2026. The reports differ on when the bench is due to meet: one says the session starts the next day, and the other says it is scheduled for Wednesday.
- Where
- Spain’s Constitutional Court.
- Why
- The appeal concerns whether 160,000 Spaniards naturalised under the “law of grandchildren” can vote in the 29 November general election.
The Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo
Constitutional Court rapporteur Enrique Arnaldo
Admissibility
The Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo
The Ombudsman has appealed the suspension of voting rights and asked the court to consider the case.
Constitutional Court rapporteur Enrique Arnaldo
Arnaldo considers the appeal premature because ordinary legal proceedings have not been exhausted.
Voting rights
The Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo
The Ombudsman argues that the connection between Spanish nationality and the right to vote is inseparable.
Constitutional Court rapporteur Enrique Arnaldo
Not stated
The Constitutional Court’s Fourth Section referred the appeal to the full bench.
The reports give different dates for the planned full-bench meeting: El País says it starts the next day, while El Mundo says it is scheduled for Wednesday.
Spain’s general election is scheduled to take place.
- People affected
- 160,000 naturalised Spaniards
- Election date
- 29 November 2026
- Appeal filed by
- Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo
- Supreme Court rapporteur
- Enrique Arnaldo
- Full-bench president
- Cándido Conde-Pumpido
4 sources
El informe interno del Tribunal Constitucional propone inadmitir el recurso del Defensor del Pueblo en la 'ley de nietos': "Es prematuro"
El pleno del Tribunal Constitucional decidirá el miércoles sobre la 'ley de nietos'
El Constitucional pone en manos del Pleno la decisión sobre la admisión del recurso del Defensor del Pueblo sobre la ‘ley de nietos’
What people are saying
the link between being Spanish and voting is indissoluble.
From the perspective of fundamental rights, the possibility of depriving people, temporarily or permanently, of this fundamental right is highly problematic.