Supreme Court keeps voting suspension for some citizens naturalized under the Grandchildren Law

Spain’s Supreme Court maintained the precautionary suspension of voting rights for certain citizens naturalized under the Grandchildren Law in the November 29 general election. The decision rejected an appeal from the State Attorney’s Office and did not grant the request submitted by prosecutors.

The State Attorney’s Office had asked the court to lift the measure, arguing that it was materially impossible to review the consular files before the election. Prosecutors also asked that those affected be allowed to participate and defend their interests in the proceeding.

The suspension could affect 163,020 voters on the electoral roll prepared for the election, according to government figures submitted to the court and reported by El País. The number is a potential estimate and does not establish how many of those affected are of Cuban origin.

The dispute concerns certain registrations in the Electoral Census of Absent Residents. The precautionary measure restricts their electoral effect while the case is decided, but it does not revoke the Spanish nationality of those affected or suspend the Democratic Memory Law.