The European Commission for Democracy Through Law of the Council of Europe, better known as the Venice Commission, adopted today, during its 138th plenary meeting, an opinion on the rule of law requirements of amnesties, with particular reference to the parliamentary bill “on the organic law on amnesty for the institutional, political and social normalisation of Catalonia”.
The opinion was prepared in reply to the requests by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for a study on the rule of law requirements that an amnesty should fulfil and by the President of the Senate of Spain for an opinion in reply to six questions concerning the parliamentary amnesty bill submitted to the Congress of the Deputies of Spain. The Venice Commission analysed the relevant provisions of the amnesty bill in its version of 13 November 2023. It took into account to a certain extent also the amendments adopted by the Congress of Deputies on 14 March 2024.
Press release
Venice Commission adopts opinion on the rule of law requirements of amnesties with particular reference to the amnesty bill in Spain
