What it is
Bill would bar fugitives from justice from running in elections
Admitted step 2 of 7· LapsedIt is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 7 March 2024. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario VOX.
Official title: Private member's bill for an Organic Law amending Organic Law 5/1985, of June 19, on the General Electoral Regime, to include fugitives from justice as ineligible.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000065· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill would add two new grounds of ineligibility in elections: being summoned as an investigated or accused person for certain serious crimes while showing intent to flee justice, or having an outstanding arrest and surrender order issued by a Spanish judge.
- It would also amend the current ground of ineligibility for people convicted of crimes such as terrorism, sedition or offenses against the Constitution, removing the reference to rebellion and adjusting the wording.
- The stated goal is that no one prosecuted for serious crimes against the unity of the Nation, the Constitution or the Public Administration can be included in an electoral list while evading Spanish justice.
- The law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado) and is issued under the state powers in Article 149.1 of the Constitution.
Who it affects
- People with an arrest and surrender order issued by a Spanish judge for certain serious crimes: They could not run as candidates in elections while the order is in force.
- People summoned as investigated or accused persons for those crimes who show intent to flee justice: They would be ineligible, meaning they could not be elected to public office.
- Political parties and electoral lists: They could not include on their lists anyone in those situations.
Words worth knowing
- Inelegible (inelegibilidad)
- A person who cannot run as a candidate or be elected in an election.
- Sufragio pasivo
- The right to stand as a candidate and hold public office through elections.
- Prófugo de la justicia
- A person who flees or hides to avoid answering to Spanish courts.
- Orden de detención y entrega
- A court order to arrest someone and bring them before Spanish judges.
- Ley orgánica (organic law)
- A type of Spanish law reserved for major matters, requiring special majorities 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 lapsed.
- Introduced7 March 2024Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted12 March 2024The 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.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000065
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- Congreso de los Diputados, procedure
The date of each step, with its official wording.
Retrieved 12 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 never say “passed” because of a vote: the files do not say which majority was needed.