The Hague: By Nour Eddine Amrani

Against the tide sweeping through many European countries, as well as the United States and other nations across the five continents, due to the rise of far-right parties and the escalating campaigns against immigrants, the Spanish government, headed by Sánchez, has unexpectedly announced a general amnesty for approximately half a million undocumented immigrants residing in Spain. This decision is surprising and unexpected, especially given the resurgence of right-wing and far-right parties in Europe advocating for closing borders to immigrants and deporting undocumented residents.

This measure has somewhat unsettled populist parties in Spain, and indeed across Europe and beyond, at a time of growing far-right influence and increasingly vocal calls for stricter measures against immigrants, including preventing them from applying for asylum and tightening family reunification laws. Immigrants live in conditions that can only be described as inhumane and tragic, especially since migrant workers are exploited and enslaved, receiving very low wages for working many extra hours, particularly in agricultural fields, without benefiting from the labor laws and compensation regulations in a member state of the European Union.

Dutch journalist Dion, a correspondent for the newspaper Volkskrant (People), reporting from Madrid, considered this decision historic. Workers' and immigrant associations in Spain also expressed their satisfaction with this government decision, which will break with the suffering and tragic conditions endured by approximately half a million immigrants in Spain. It will stand against employers and landowners who exploit migrant labor, enabling them to benefit from labor laws and disability or illness compensation in a society that has trampled on their dignity, and transforming Spanish society into a country where rights and responsibilities are equal.

The general amnesty will include all immigrants who arrived in Spain before 2026, allowing them to apply for legal residency and regularize their status until June 30th.

To benefit from this regularization process, immigrants must prove their presence in Spain for up to five months. They can also provide documents such as a rental agreement, proof of payment, a money transfer, or a previously purchased train ticket.

This procedure excludes immigrants with criminal records.

Spanish authorities have encouraged immigrants to apply without fear, as they will receive a temporary work contract upon application receipt.

Informed sources anticipate that the public treasury will benefit from increased tax revenue, and immigrants will gain access to healthcare services. This measure, to be implemented by royal decree without parliamentary approval, will facilitate the task of the Socialist Party, which leads the Spanish government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and whose party won a majority in the last parliamentary elections held in 2015.

Therefore, observers and analysts of Spanish politics believe that the Socialist Party will benefit both in terms of media coverage and politically from such a measure, especially since it has already secured the support and endorsement of other socialist and left-leaning parties. The party aims to garner support from these parties for the ratification of other decisions, and is thus counting on Podemos to stand with it in the face of future challenges posed by European and global politics.