The Supreme Court has granted a five-day period to the Minister of Justice, Félix Bolaños, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to submit the list of the 163,000 people who obtained nationality under the umbrella of the so-called "grandchildren's law", according to two orders from the Contentious-Administrative Chamber to which Vozpópuli has had access.
The magistrates warn that, if the request is not met within that period, they may be admonished, in a resolution that opens the door to the imposition of coercive measures to ensure compliance with the judicial order.
Coercive fine of 1,000 euros
Specifically, the order points out the possibility of imposing a coercive fine of 1,000 euros on the "aforementioned ministers who fail to comply with this requirement", a sanction that, according to the resolution itself, may be reiterated "until the complete execution of the judicial ruling", without prejudice to other patrimonial responsibilities that may arise.
The magistrates add, furthermore, that they can "deduce, if applicable, the appropriate testimony of particulars to demand the criminal responsibility that may correspond", a warning that raises the level of demand of the Supreme Court in the face of eventual non-compliance with the order.
The documentation requested from Justice and Foreign Affairs
The judicial request directly affects two government departments, the Ministry of Justice, headed by Félix Bolaños, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by José Manuel Albares, to whom the court demands the submission of a specific list linked to the processing of these nationalities.
Óscar López's statements
The Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López, specified this Friday that the Government will put all necessary resources to comply with the decision of the Supreme Court to temporarily suspend the vote of those naturalized by the so-called 'grandchildren's law' who do not prove to be descendants of exiles, while emphasizing that the Executive will also work to guarantee the right to vote of naturalized Spaniards.
During an interview on TVE, reported by Europa Press, López was asked about the confusion that exists in consulates on how to apply the high court's order and differentiate between those who have accessed nationality through one path or another. Regarding whether the right to vote of those registered in the Census of Absent Spanish Residents (CERA) is in danger, the minister insisted that the Government will act to respect the judicial resolution and, at the same time, protect the suffrage of those affected.
"The Government will do everything possible"
Óscar López stressed that the Executive is still awaiting the judicial resolution of the Supreme Court, given that this Thursday is the deadline for those affected to present allegations against the precautionary suspension of the right to vote of those naturalized by the so-called 'grandchildren's law'.
In this context, the minister remarked: "The Government will do everything possible to guarantee the right to vote and to comply with judicial resolutions."
Criticism of Vox and the Popular Party
In the same interview, Óscar López pointed to Vox as responsible for having caused "this mess" with its complaint against a norm that allows naturalization of descendants of exiles from the Spanish Civil War. According to him, Santiago Abascal's party has also generated "a colossal mess" in Justice.
The socialist leader also lashed out at the Popular Party, which he accuses of having "jumped on the bandwagon" of Vox. In that sense, he recalled that in the past Alberto Núñez Feijóo was, in his opinion, "the first to constantly demand the foreign vote."
According to López, it is necessary to "facilitate" that "the more people vote, the better," and he questioned the PP's attitude towards newly naturalized citizens residing outside Spain, whom he accuses of wanting to "sow doubts to prevent voting." Furthermore, he defended that the function of a political party is to promote participation and criticized the doubts raised about mechanisms such as postal voting.