Amnesty law for Catalan separatists expected to pass in Spain

Prime minister Pedro Sánchez argues the bill, unpopular with many, is needed for Spain to move on

Spain’s congress is expected to approve a controversial and divisive Catalan amnesty law that regional separatists demanded in return for helping the country’s Socialist-led coalition government back into office following last year’s inconclusive general election.

Thursday’s vote comes amid heightened political tensions a day after Catalonia’s president, Pere Aragonès, called an early regional election after the defeat of his government’s budget in the Catalan assembly.