Spain's Court of Auditors grants amnesty to all officials accused over public-fund misuse in the Catalan referendum process
The Tribunal de Cuentas has issued a blanket amnesty for every person charged with alleged misappropriation of public money linked to the 2017 Catalan independence push, following clarification from the EU Court of Justice.
The Tribunal de Cuentas, Spain's supreme audit institution, announced today that it has granted amnesty to all 35 individuals prosecuted for alleged misuse of public resources in organizing the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. Counselor Elena Hernáez based the decision on a recent judgment by the Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea, which found no impact on EU budgetary interests, allowing the amnesty to be applied without contravening EU law.
The ruling also cancelled the precautionary bonds that the Institut Català de Finances had provided as security. While the prosecutor had asked for the return of funds linked to the referendum, the court determined that the EU's financial interests remained untouched. Among those cleared were former regional leaders Carles Puigdemont and Artur Mas, as well as former ministers such as Oriol Junqueras, Raül Romeva, Jordi Turull, Antoni Comin, Lluis Puig and Dolors Bassa. The decision follows a pending question referred to the EU Court, which now confirms that the amnesty does not violate EU principles of primacy or loyal cooperation.
Why it matters
The ruling ends a long-running legal saga over Catalan referendum finances and clarifies the relationship between Spanish law and EU financial rules.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth left-leaning and centrist coverage report the same factual outcome—amnesty for all 35 officials—and cite the EU court ruling that no EU budgetary interests were affected.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage highlights the amnesty granted to prominent Catalan independence figures and notes the EU court’s confirmation that no EU funds were used.
CENTER
Centrist coverage emphasizes the legal basis of the amnesty—an EU judgment—and notes the cancellation of precautionary bonds and the prosecutor’s request for fund repayment.
The left emphasises
- amnesty applied to Carles Puigdemont, Artur Mas, Oriol Junqueras and other Catalan officials
- EU Court of Justice confirmed no EU funding was involved
- procedural delays and multiple hearings before the decision
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