Bill to expand the cases the Audiencia NacionalAudiencia Nacional A Spanish court that tries very serious crimes nationwide, such as terrorism or major drug trafficking cases. can try

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill, filed by the Popular Party group in the Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) and not yet passed, would amend Article 65 of the Organic Laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes. on the Judiciary to better define which crimes the Audiencia Nacional tries.
2. For drug trafficking, the Audiencia Nacional would hear cases committed by criminal organizations, serious cases under the Criminal Code, and cases by organized groups affecting several judicial territories, even if they operate in a single province.
3. It would also cover money laundering linked to drug trafficking, and human trafficking and smuggling committed by criminal organizations with effects in different judicial territories.
4. A new provision would bring the rule on terrorism crimes into the law itself, since that jurisdiction already belonged to the Audiencia Nacional under a 1977 royal decree-lawroyal decree-law A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses..

Who it affects

• Judges and prosecutors of the Audiencia Nacional: They would have clearer assignment of serious drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking cases.
• Drug trafficking criminal organizations: Their most relevant cases could be investigated and tried by the Audiencia Nacional even if they act in a single province.
• Victims and people affected by these gangs: The bill seeks a more effective judicial response to organizations that spread terror.

Words worth knowing

Audiencia Nacional

A Spanish court that tries very serious crimes nationwide, such as terrorism or major drug trafficking cases.

Blanqueo de capitales

Money laundering: hiding money from criminal activity so it looks legal.

Trata de personas

Human trafficking: recruiting and exploiting people, for example for forced labor.

Audiencia (territorial)

The territorial area covered by the high courts of each autonomous community; a crime affecting several is considered broader in scope.

Proposición de ley orgánica

A bill filed in Congress that, if passed, would amend an organic law, a type of Spanish law requiring a special majority.

royal decree-law

A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses.

decree-law

A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

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