Photo: David Jar
The publishing house Colex has presented in Madrid a compilation book of articles by jurists with great recognition, with arguments in defense of the Rule of Law and against the proposition of an organic law of amnesty. The members of the research project on Rule of Law in Europe, Antonio Bar Cendón and Manuel Martínez Sospedra, contributed articles.
On February 14th, in Madrid, a book presentation took place aiming to defend the Rule of Law, the Constitution, and the Spanish legal system. Under the title “Amnesty in Spain: Constitution and Rule of Law,” edited by Colex, 66 jurists of renowned trajectory joined to compile 78 articles, deploying compelling arguments in favor of the Rule of Law and questioning the constitutionality and legitimacy of the PSOE’s proposal for amnesty for participants in the Catalonia Procés in 2017.
This volume, the result of collaborative work by experts in constitutional and penal law, presents a critical view of the amnesty proposal, highlighting its potential to subordinate politics to law. In the words of Professor Manuel Martínez Sospedra, professor emeritus of Constitutional Law at UCH-CEU and one of the authors of the book, the absence of an enabling clause in the Constitution for such a measure is evidence that amnesty does not fit within the constitutional framework.
The research project on the Rule of Law in Europe, represented by Antonio Bar Cendón and Manuel Martínez Sospedra, has contributed their perspective with two and one articles respectively. Additionally, distinguished figures such as Manuel Aragón, Agustín Ruiz Robledo, and Enrique Gimbernat have contributed with their experience and knowledge to the debate.
The arguments put forward range from the lack of constitutional basis, to the perception that this proposal is being used as a political bargaining chip to ensure governmental stability. As the authors of the book point out, there is great ideological diversity among them, which reinforces the idea that this debate is not about political parties or individual affiliations, but about the very foundation of the Rule of Law in Spain.
The book not only criticizes the proposed amnesty but also dismantles the notion that it is an attack against a specific community, such as Catalonia, as it includes contributions from Catalan authors, some of whom have written in their native language. It is highlighted that this is a questioning of a measure that, according to the authors, undermines the fundamental principles of the 1978 Constitution, presenting itself as a political operation rather than an act of genuine reconciliation.
“Amnesty in Spain: Constitution and Rule of Law” is not only a compendium of legal arguments but a call for reflection on the very foundations of justice and legality in the Spanish context. It is a reminder that the Rule of Law must prevail over temporary political maneuvers, and that guaranteeing equality before the law is a fundamental pillar of any democratic society.
Find the book “Amnesty in Spain: Constitution and Rule of Law” on the Colex website.
SOURCES: The first photograph of the book presentation with the speakers is taken by photographer David Jar.
