Spain's Supreme Court Speeds Up 'Grandchildren's Law' Voting Case Affecting 163,020 Overseas Voters
Spain's Supreme Court moved on October 10 to speed up a case with direct consequences for the November 29 election: its Contentious-Administrative Chamber gave the parties an unextendable two-day deadline to file allegations on whether to lift the precautionary suspension of voting rights for people who obtained Spanish nationality under the so-called grandchildren's law, the Democratic Memory Law provision for descendants of exiles.
The suspension, agreed in September, blocks an estimated 163,020 overseas voters (CERA) from taking part. Both the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Government have asked the court to lift it, arguing it is materially impossible to distinguish the affected voters from genuine descendants of exiles before polling day. The association Iustitia Europa, which brought the case, has asked the court to uphold the suspension.
According to Foreign Ministry figures, more than 1.2 million applications for nationality have been filed under the provision and 571,761 have been approved.
The court is expected to rule within days, in the middle of the electoral census consultation period running from October 12 to 19. (Source: Supreme Court of Spain)
Source: Supreme Court of Spain
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：西班牙最高法院大楼（资料图）。Wikimedia Commons 开放授权。 / Photo: Spain's Supreme Court building in Madrid (file photo). Wikimedia Commons, open license.
