What it is
Proposal to limit and set rules for pardons
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 20 September 2022. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Ciudadanos.
Official title: Private member's bill for the amendment of the Law of 18 June 1870 establishing rules for the exercise of the grace of pardon.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000255· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill would ban pardons for people convicted of rebellion or sedition and for those serving renewable life sentences. It would also exclude serious crimes such as aggravated murder, terrorism causing death, genocide and crimes against humanity.
- The convicted person would have to request the pardon from the Government themselves, expressing remorse and declaring they will not reoffend. For corruption-related crimes, only the sentencing court could request it.
- Pardons would be granted through a reasoned Royal Decree, citing reasons of justice, equity or social reintegration. Without that reasoning, the decision would be null and void.
- A full pardon would require reasons of justice, equity or social reintegration in the view of the sentencing court. Remorse and a low risk of reoffending would be conditions of the pardon, and the pardon could be revoked if those conditions are broken.
Who it affects
- People convicted of rebellion, sedition or very serious crimes: they could not be pardoned.: exclusion from pardons
- Convicted persons seeking a pardon: they would have to apply themselves, showing remorse and pledging not to reoffend.: new application requirement
- People convicted of corruption crimes: they could not apply themselves; only the court could.: application channeled through the court
- Government and courts: they would have to give reasons for pardons and check the required conditions.: more oversight and transparency
Words worth knowing
- Indulto (pardon)
- A Government decision that forgives all or part of a criminal sentence.
- Sentencia firme (final judgment)
- A court ruling that can no longer be appealed.
- Prisión permanente revisable (renewable life sentence)
- The longest prison sentence in Spain, reviewed after a minimum period.
- Real Decreto (Royal Decree)
- A rule approved by the Government and signed by the King.
- Reincidencia (reoffending)
- Committing a new crime after having been convicted.
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.
- Introduced20 September 2022Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted26 September 2022The 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 has not been presented again yet.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000255
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.