Spain's Supreme Court temporarily halts impact of Grandchildren Law on overseas voter register

In a series of hearings, the Supreme Court considered requests from Iustitia Europa and Vox and subsequently approved precautionary measures that freeze the Grandchildren Law's effect on the CERA electoral roll. The judges argued that the law creates a real and serious threat to the fairness of upcoming elections, prompting a temporary suspension until a comprehensive ruling is issued. The decision notes that the PSOE has consistently topped the CERA vote in the recent regional contests in Aragón (1,556 votes), Castilla y León (4,303 votes) and Andalucía (6,703 votes).

While the order does not interfere with the granting of Spanish nationality, it limits voting rights for those already registered under the new provisions. A dissenting opinion from magistrate Alicia Millán contended that the acquisition of nationality under the law was lawful and does not constitute a qualified risk justifying the restriction. The court also criticized the 2022 Instruction on the law as not aligning with the statutory text. All measures are framed as temporary, pending the court's final judgment.