The Spanish Supreme Court is deliberating on whether to grant amnesty to former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and two ex-ministers for their roles in the 2017 independence referendum.

The court previously denied amnesty, citing malfeasance charges, but the prosecution and state attorneys argue that the law does not exclude such cases.

Puigdemont’s lawyer contends that the Catalan High Court, not the Supreme Court, should decide the matter, as Puigdemont is no longer a European Parliament member.

The debate has reignited tensions over the interpretation of the amnesty law, with critics accusing the Supreme Court of inconsistent rulings.

If the court rejects the appeal, Puigdemont could escalate the case to Spain’s Constitutional Court.