Overview
- Spain’s Congress approved the multirecidivism reform with 302 votes in favor, toughening penalties for repeat petty thefts and certain device robberies, as the PSOE aligned with PP, Vox and PNV to honor a commitment sought by Junts.
- The State Legal Service and the Public Prosecutor urged the Constitutional Court to uphold Carles Puigdemont’s rights in his amparo appeal, criticizing the Supreme Court’s reasoning for denying amnesty on malversación in the ‘procés’ case.
- The Supreme Court holds the preliminary hearing in the pandemic mask‑contracts case, with prosecutors seeking 24 years for ex‑minister José Luis Ábalos, 19.5 for his ex‑aide Koldo García and 7 for businessman Víctor de Aldama, who confessed and obtained mitigation.
- Negotiations in Extremadura are at an impasse as the PP deems a PSOE abstention unworkable and Vox refuses to facilitate María Guardiola’s investiture, triggering a two‑month countdown to potential repeat elections if the March investiture fails.
- Venezuela’s National Assembly chief Jorge Rodríguez said there will be no presidential elections in the immediate period, framing the pause as a bid for stability alongside amnesty discussions and new openings to foreign oil investment.