Spain's Top Judge Criticises Supreme Court Over Amnesty Law
Listen to the story
Conde-Pumpido, the president of Spain's Constitutional Court, has criticised the Supreme Court over its reading of the amnesty law.
He said the Supreme Court made an interpretation that is "contrary to the spirit and purpose of the law."
Conde-Pumpido also said the interpretation is "contrary to the law" itself.
The amnesty law was created to help people involved in the 'procés', the Catalan independence movement.
According to the summary, the Supreme Court will now apply the amnesty law immediately.
This decision will speed up the return of Carles Puigdemont to Spain.
Puigdemont has been living outside Spain since the 'procés'.
The law will also allow the rehabilitation of all people who were convicted because of the independence movement.
Rehabilitation means these people will get back their rights and legal status.
Conde-Pumpido's comments show a strong disagreement between two of Spain's most important courts.
The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court often play different roles in Spanish law.
This disagreement could have a big effect on Spanish politics in the coming weeks.
Many people are now watching closely to see what happens next with Puigdemont's case.
Vocabulary10 words
- Constitutional Court
- the top court that checks if laws follow the constitution
- Supreme Court
- one of the highest courts, deciding many legal cases
- amnesty
- an official decision to stop punishing people for something
- interpretation
- the way someone explains or understands a law
- 'procés'
- the Catalan movement for independence from Spain
- Puigdemont
- a Catalan politician linked to the independence movement
- rehabilitation
- getting back your rights or good name after punishment
- convicted
- officially found guilty of a crime
- spirit of the law
- the real purpose behind a law, not just its exact words
- disagreement
- a situation where people do not agree
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A dispute between two courts over the amnesty law's meaning 2. The spirit and purpose of the amnesty law 3. False
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Conde-Pumpido, the president of Spain's Constitutional Court, has criticised the _____ Court over its reading of the amnesty law.
He said the Supreme Court made an interpretation that is "contrary to the spirit and _____ of the law."
Conde-Pumpido also said the interpretation is "contrary to the _____" itself.
The amnesty law was created to help people involved in the 'procés', the Catalan _____ movement.
According to the summary, the Supreme Court will now _____ the amnesty law immediately.
This decision will speed up the _____ of Carles Puigdemont to Spain.
The law will also allow the rehabilitation of all people who were _____ because of the independence movement.
Rehabilitation means these people will get back their rights and legal _____.
Conde-Pumpido's comments show a strong _____ between two of Spain's most important courts.
Discussion questions
- Why might disagreements between courts be important for a country's politics?
- What does 'rehabilitation' mean for people convicted in a political case?
- Why do you think an amnesty law can be controversial?
- How might Puigdemont's return affect Spanish politics?
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