Spain orders certificates for nationals via Democratic Memory Law

Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed consulates worldwide to issue certificates to individuals who acquired Spanish nationality under the Democratic Memory Law by proving descent from exiles. This specific group includes those who provided evidence that their ancestors left Spain due to political, ideological, religious, or sexual orientation reasons.

This directive follows a controversial Supreme Court decision regarding the CERA (Census of Absent Residents) electoral roll. The Court has suspended the registration of many new nationals into the CERA, citing a “founded, real and serious danger” that an extraordinary increase in the census could affect the objectivity and transparency of electoral processes. This suspension stems from legal challenges brought by Vox and Iustitia Europa.

As a result, two distinct categories of nationals acquired via the law have emerged: those who provided direct documentation of persecution and those who were granted nationality based on the legal presumption of exile. While those already voluntarily registered in the consular registry maintain their voting rights, others remain unable to vote until the Supreme Court rules on the merits of the appeals.