Spain parliament gives final approval to amnesty law for Catalonia separatists

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez argues that the amnesty is key to reducing tensions in north-east Catalonia (Manu Fernandez/AP)

Spain’s Parliament has given final approval to a controversial amnesty law for hundreds of Catalan separatists involved in the illegal and unsuccessful 2017 secession bid.

The legislation was backed by Spain’s left-wing coalition government, two Catalan separatist parties, and other smaller parties. It passed by a vote of 177-172 in the lower house with the conservative Popular Party and far-right Vox opposing it.