The European Parliament approved this Wednesday a report on the Rule of Law in the European Union in which it condemns the “abusive” use of amnesties and pardons when they benefit politicians, considering that these practices can erode equality before the law and citizen trust in institutions.
The text has moved forward with an amendment driven by the Patriots for Europe group, and has had a divided vote that has left the PSOE in the rejection bloc along with other left-wing and nationalist formations.
A vote that highlights political fractures
The amendment has been approved by 317 votes in favor and 275 against, in a division that has pitted the main groups in the European hemicycle against each other. The result has been interpreted by the People's Party as a clear political message on the use of clemency mechanisms in contexts of criminal responsibility of public leaders.
From the PP, MEP Javier Zarzalejos has celebrated that the European Parliament has expressed its concern about the use of amnesties in certain contexts, highlighting that the report reflects a “growing alarm about the deterioration of the Rule of Law” in some countries of the Union.
The European debate with an echo in Spain
Although the report does not mention specific cases, the debate has been marked by the Spanish political context and by the situation of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, pending resolutions from both the Constitutional Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding the amnesty law.
The document also warns of other institutional risks, such as the political use of justice, interference in corruption investigations, or pressure on public media in different Member States.
The approved report also calls for greater transparency in the appointment of public media bodies and warns about the weakening of control mechanisms against corruption in the EU.