Oriol Junqueras, the president of Esquerra Republicana, has voiced strong criticism against certain Spanish courts for their refusal to implement the Amnesty Law, one year following its approval. Junqueras, who has been convicted and disqualified due to his involvement in the Catalan independence process, labeled this refusal as an "unprecedented judicial rebellion" in any comparable European democracy. Currently, there have been 35 denied amnesties, according to data from the Sindicatura por la Amnistía, a body under Òmnium Cultural responsible for monitoring the law's application.

Xavier Antich, president of Òmnium Cultural, noted a slight shift in trend, with 60% of individuals requesting amnesty now having their cases closed. However, he lamented that only a third of the cases have been resolved favorably, including amnesties granted, cases archived, and acquittals. Junqueras described this situation as "dismal" and expressed skepticism regarding the resolution of pending cases, including his own. Three weeks ago, the Supreme Court denied a second pardon to the former vice president of the Generalitat, which would have ended his disqualification and allowed him to hold public office.

Antich has accused the Spanish judicial leadership of deliberately obstructing certain cases and acting "arbitrarily" to prevent the application of the Amnesty Law. He criticized the slower-than-expected process and emphasized that Spain is the only European country where "the courts are the sole obstacle to the law's implementation."

Junqueras underscored the necessity of applying the law for "justice and the defense of fundamental rights," emphasizing the importance of allowing individuals to live without the fear of unjust persecution. He criticized a segment of the judicial system for interpreting laws at will: "We will resist because they resist, and we hope for the revocation of sentences," he asserted.

Concerning the upcoming decision from the Constitutional Court (TC), Antich demanded an end to the excuses delaying the law's application: "All cases against those persecuted must be closed, allowing Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín, and Lluís Puig to return home," he urged.

Of the 726 individuals eligible to request amnesty, the Sindicatura noted there are 332 cases without evidence of application. Antich explained these situations as "understandable," attributing them to individuals affected by minor sentences who prefer not to initiate further legal processes or bear associated costs, given the lack of guarantee for reimbursement.