Spain’s parliament gives final approval to amnesty law for Catalonia’s separatists

By JOSEPH WILSON and TERESA MEDRANO
Associated Press

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s lower house of parliament has given final approval to a contentious amnesty law for hundreds of Catalan separatists involved in the illegal and unsuccessful 2017 secession bid. The legislation was backed by Spain’s left-wing coalition government, two Catalan separatist parties and other smaller parties. It passed Thursday despite the conservative Popular Party and far-right Vox voting against it. The amnesty should benefit former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont and hundreds others. Puigdemont is a fugitive from Spanish law in Belgium after fleeing his country following the failed breakaway bid that he led.