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Spain Supreme Court upholds voting suspension for 163,020 naturalized citizens
The Spanish Supreme Court has upheld a precautionary suspension of voting rights for approximately 163,020 citizens who obtained nationality through the Democratic Memory Law, commonly known as the ‘grandchildren law’. The decision, reached by a five-to-one vote in the Administrative Litigation Chamber, applies to the upcoming general elections scheduled for November 29.
The ruling affects individuals naturalized under the law who are registered in the overseas electoral census (CERA). While the suspension is broad, an exception exists for those who can provide documentary proof from consular offices that they are descendants of exiles fleeing political, ideological, religious, or sexual orientation-based persecution.
The Spanish Government has criticized the decision, describing it as an attack on fundamental rights and an extraordinary gravity. Conversely, opposition parties, including the PP and Vox, have welcomed the ruling, arguing it is necessary to ensure the accuracy and purity of the electoral census and to prevent potential irregularities.
Entities
Alberto Núñez Feijóo · Alicia Millán · Democratic Memory Law · Fernando Grande-Marlaska · Iustitia Europa · PP · Pedro Sánchez · Spain · Spanish Government · Spanish Supreme Court · State Attorney's Office · Supreme Court of Spain
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] The court rejected appeals from the State Attorney's Office and the Prosecutor's Office to lift the suspension. nacion.com.uy · valencianoticias.com · lagacetadecadiz.es · www.esdiario.com · elcierredigital.com · +6 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The decision was reached with a five-to-one vote in the Administrative Litigation Chamber. www.esdiario.com · nacion.com.uy · www.que.es · valencianoticias.com · elcierredigital.com · +1 more
- [● 26 SOURCES] The Supreme Court maintained the precautionary suspension of voting rights for citizens naturalized under the 'grandparents law'. nacion.com.uy · valencianoticias.com · lagacetadecadiz.es · www.esdiario.com · elcierredigital.com · +17 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The government is studying whether to appeal the Supreme Court's decision to the Constitutional Court. www.3cat.cat · lamanyana.cat · www.informacion.es · www.cope.es
- [● 13 SOURCES] The suspension affects citizens who obtained nationality via the Democratic Memory Law but cannot prove descent from political exiles. valencianoticias.com · lagacetadecadiz.es · www.esdiario.com · nacion.com.uy · www.que.es · +8 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] The general elections are scheduled for November 29. valencianoticias.com · lagacetadecadiz.es · www.esdiario.com · nacion.com.uy · www.humanite.fr · +16 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Approximately 163,020 voters are affected by the suspension of their right to vote in the upcoming general elections. nacion.com.uy · valencianoticias.com · lagacetadecadiz.es · www.esdiario.com · elcierredigital.com · +8 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The suspension aims to preserve the accuracy of the electoral census and prevent irregularities. nacion.com.uy · valencianoticias.com · lagacetadecadiz.es · www.esdiario.com · www.elperiodico.digital · +5 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The suspension does not apply to those who can provide documentary proof of being descendants of exiles due to political, ideological, religious, or sexual orientation reasons. nacion.com.uy · www.esdiario.com · valencianoticias.com · lagacetadecadiz.es · infoarenales.com · +4 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The suspension of voting rights is a provisional precautionary measure. www.farodevigo.es · www.elcorreoweb.es · nacion.com.uy · valencianoticias.com · infoarenales.com · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The affected citizens were naturalized under the Democratic Memory Law and registered in the electoral census as of August 31, 2026. www.farodevigo.es · www.elcorreoweb.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] Magistrate Alicia Millán argued that the call for elections made the potential violation of suffrage rights irreversible. www.farodevigo.es · www.elcorreoweb.es