What it is
Proposal to bar fugitives from justice from running in elections
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 22 February 2018. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Ciudadanos.
Official title: Private member's bill for an Organic Law amending Organic Law 5/1985, of 19 June, on the General Electoral System.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000188· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill would add a new ground of ineligibility: fugitives from justice against whom a court has issued a search and arrest warrant, in proceedings for the crimes already listed in paragraph b) of the same section (rebellion, terrorism, crimes against the Public Administration or against State institutions).
- The ineligibility would last only while the person remains a fugitive. The fugitive could end it by turning themselves in to the courts, and a judge would then decide.
- The repealing provision would strike down rules of equal or lower rank that conflict with the law, and the law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette.
Who it affects
- Fugitives from justice with a search and arrest warrant for certain crimes: They could not run as candidates in elections while they remain fugitives.
- Political parties and electoral lists: They would have to exclude people in that situation from their candidate lists.
- Judges: They would decide on the fugitive's situation once the person surrenders to the courts.
Words worth knowing
- Sufragio pasivo
- The right to stand as a candidate in an election.
- Inelegibilidad
- A situation in which a person cannot run as a candidate.
- Requisitoria de búsqueda y detención
- A court order to search for and arrest a person.
- Sentencia firme
- A court ruling that can no longer be appealed.
- Ley Orgánica
- A type of Spanish law reserved for major matters, such as fundamental rights, which requires a special majority in the Congress to pass.
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.
- Introduced22 February 2018Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted27 February 2018The 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:
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Rejected Private member's bill for an Organic Law amending Organic Law 5/1985, of 19 June, on the General Electoral System.
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Bill proposes changes to Spain's electoral law on seats, Senate and debates
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Proposal to reform Spain's electoral law: seats, Senate and debates
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Withdrawn Private member's bill for an Organic Law amending Organic Law 5/1985, of 19 June, on the General Electoral System.
- XIV Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Proposal to reform Spain's electoral law: more proportional seats, debates, and directly elected provincial councils
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000188
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.