The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation has instructed all consular offices to provide service this Saturday and Sunday in order to "meet the deadline of the last ruling" of the Supreme Court, which has warned of the imposition of a fine on the Government if within five days it does not send the list of the 163,020 affected by the precautionary suspension of the vote of those naturalized by the 'grandchildren's law'.
Sources from Foreign Affairs indicated this Friday that, "after the last ruling that establishes a deadline, it has been communicated to all consulates that it is imperative that they deliver the requested data to meet that deadline," also emphasizing that "all the staff of the Embassies" has been made available to expedite the work.
The high court has demanded both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes to send to the Administrative Litigation Chamber, the Central Electoral Board and the Electoral Census Office the "nominal" list of the people affected by the judicial decision.
From the department headed by José Manuel Albares, it has been pointed out that, since the receipt of the Supreme Court's rulings, "all permits and vacations of the consulates were suspended," and the offices were ordered to "allocate all necessary personnel to comply with the rulings."
Urgent and priority task for the consulates
Additionally, "they were informed that this task was urgent and a priority." As Foreign Affairs emphasizes, "all requests for personnel reinforcement that the consulates have requested have been approved" in order to advance in the identification of the affected.
In the same vein, this Friday the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, Félix Bolazos, stated that his department had already given instructions to the consular offices to facilitate the names required by the Supreme Court.
"All efforts" towards a "difficult" goal
Subsequently, from the Ministry led by Albares, they have insisted that both Foreign Affairs and the consular network "are making all necessary efforts since the first ruling of the Supreme Court to comply" with the judicial resolutions. At the same time, they have assured that "efforts will be doubled if necessary to comply with this new ruling."
Albares has admitted in recent days that it will be "very difficult" to complete the process within the deadline, due to the "narrow" margin available, and has defended that the entire Foreign Service is "scrupulously complying with the Supreme Court's order."
Last Tuesday, Foreign Affairs reported that a total of 48 consular offices in different countries had already concluded, totally or partially, the verification of who among those nationalized by 'grandchildren's law' are descendants of exiles and, therefore, can exercise the right to vote in the elections on November 29. Since then, that data has not been updated.
The Foreign Minister explained that the verification must be done manually for the files processed between 2022 and 2025, when the REGICIDE began to be applied. According to the figures from Foreign Affairs, the digital civil registry lists 70,000 people who obtained nationality in 2025 and 2026, whose data has already been sent to the Electoral Census Office.
Fine of 1,000 euros for ministers in case of non-compliance
The Supreme Court warns that the penalty could reach 1,000 euros for ministers who "fail to comply with this requirement" and opens the door to "reiterating these fines until the complete execution of the court ruling, without prejudice to other patrimonial responsibilities that may arise" if the ordered compliance is not met.