Spain approves amnesty for Catalan separatists, but adiós to hopes it would bolster weak government

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has kept his part of a bargain struck last year with Catalonia’s separatists to keep him in power by pushing through a divisive amnesty bill. The legislation aims to clear hundreds of secession supporters for their roles in an illegal breakaway bid attempted six years ago. The amnesty became a political necessity for the Socialist leader after an inconclusive national election last July left two Catalan separatist parties playing kingmaker. Their price for backing a new minority government led by Sánchez: an amnesty for their supporters and leaders still in legal trouble, among other concessions. The amnesty bill was passed by Spain’s Parliament in the capital of Madrid by a vote of 178-172 on Thursday.