What it is
Bill would limit and require reasons for government pardons
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 14 January 2016. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Socialista.
Official title: Private member's bill reforming the Law of June 18, 1870, on Rules for the exercise of the Grace of pardon.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000007· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill's explanatory statement says courts have so far only reviewed the formal steps of a pardon, not its reasons, and that this must change to prevent arbitrary decisions.
- The bill would ban pardons for corruption crimes committed by public officials or authorities, and for crimes related to gender violence Violence a woman suffers from a current or former partner because she is a woman..
- It would require the agreement of the judge or court that imposed the sentence for a full pardon, and would allow full pardons only for reasons of justice, equity, public utility, or the inmate's social reintegration.
- Every pardon would have to be issued in a reasoned Royal Decree stating the concrete reasons in writing; without those reasons it would be void. The law would also apply to cases already in process and would take effect the day after publication in the official gazette.
Who it affects
- People convicted of corruption or gender violence crimes: They could not receive a pardon if the bill passes.
- Convicted people seeking a full pardon: Their pardon would also need the agreement of the sentencing court.
- The Government: It would have to give written reasons for every pardon, full or partial.
- Sentencing judges and courts: They would have to approve full pardons and would not enforce pardons lacking the required reasons.
Words worth knowing
- Indulto
- A pardon: a government decision that forgives all or part of a convicted person's sentence.
- Motivado
- Reasoned: accompanied by the concrete reasons that justify the decision.
- Real Decreto
- Royal Decree: a rule signed by the King at the Government's proposal.
- Nulo
- Void: it has no legal effect, as if it never existed.
- BOE
- Boletín Oficial del Estado, the official gazette where Spanish laws are published.
- gender violence
- Violence a woman suffers from a current or former partner because she is a woman.
It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries
Where it stands
How far did it get?
It took 2 of 7 steps. It reached Admitted, and today it is unfinished.
- Introduced14 January 2016Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted2 February 2016The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
- Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
- Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
- Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
- Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
- BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
Was there a plenary vote?
We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.
What happens next
What happens now?
The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.
It was presented again:
- XII Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Bill would limit pardons and require written reasons
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000007
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
- Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
- We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.