The Spanish Supreme Court decided against extending the temporary suspension of voting rights to those benefiting from the Grandchildren Law residing in Spain, as reported by El Mundo on Friday, October 30. This ruling comes in response to a request from Iustitia Europa ahead of the general elections scheduled for November 29.
The Administrative Litigation Chamber dismissed the proposal to broaden the suspension to include naturalized citizens registered in Spain's Electoral Census of Residents (CER), as well as their children. The court's ruling, cited by the newspaper, noted that the request "pertains to matters not included in the scope of this appeal."
This refusal to extend the measure also applies to Cubans who acquired Spanish nationality through this channel and are listed in the CER. However, this decision does not lift the temporary restrictions affecting certain naturalized individuals registered in the Census of Spanish Residents Abroad (CERA).
Awaiting Decision on Descendants Abroad
In a subsequent ruling, the Supreme Court granted the parties three days to present arguments before deciding whether to extend the suspension to descendants of those who obtained nationality through this law.
Iustitia Europa had sought to implement the measure without prior input from the involved parties. The court rejected this approach and opted to process the request as a precautionary measure, leaving the issue concerning the descendants in the CERA unresolved.
The organization, led by Luis María Pardo, submitted its documents on October 27 and 28, arguing that previous rulings did not explicitly address the situation of naturalized residents in Spain or the children of the beneficiaries.
The request to extend the restrictions to adult children of naturalized individuals, filed on October 27, targets those who obtained citizenship through Annex III of the Democratic Memory Law, commonly referred to as the Grandchildren Law.
In their proposal, Iustitia Europa suggested that the votes of the affected electorate be received but kept separate and uncounted until their eligibility can be verified. Alternatively, they proposed limiting the measure to children whose parents were subject to prior restrictions.
Understanding the Supreme Court's Ruling on Voting Rights
What was the Supreme Court's decision regarding the voting rights of Grandchildren Law beneficiaries?
The court decided not to extend the suspension of voting rights to those benefiting from the Grandchildren Law residing in Spain.
Who does the decision affect?
It affects naturalized citizens registered in the Electoral Census of Residents (CER) in Spain and their children, as well as Cubans who obtained Spanish nationality through the Grandchildren Law.
What is the status of the request concerning descendants abroad?
The court is still considering whether to extend the suspension to descendants of those who gained nationality through the Grandchildren Law, with a decision pending.