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Spanish Supreme Court suspends voting rights for 306,000 grandchildren of exiles
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On September 11, 2026, the Spanish Supreme Court granted a request by far-right parties Vox and Iustitia Europa to temporarily suspend the voting rights of approximately 306,000 Spaniards who are grandchildren of exiles from the Franco era. These individuals, primarily living in Latin America, had obtained Spanish citizenship under a 2022 law known as the 'Grandchildren Law,' which granted passports and civil rights to descendants of those who fled fascist terror between July 18, 1936, and December 31, 1955. The court cited a 'justified, real, and serious risk' that the objectivity and transparency of the electoral process would be compromised, potentially causing 'irreversible damage' to the integrity of the procedure. The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, views the ruling as a 'provocation,' with ministers expressing concern that tens of thousands of Spaniards are losing voting rights despite retaining citizenship. The conservative Partido Popular (PP) has joined accusations of planned election manipulation by Sánchez, though PP leader Alberto Nuñez Feijóo previously promised to grant passports and voting rights to grandchildren if elected. The Supreme Court will separately examine whether to uphold the measure, but given the slow pace of the Spanish judiciary, a final ruling before upcoming elections in May and early summer is uncertain. Voter turnout data suggests most Spanish citizens in Latin America do not vote.
Source report
They hold Spanish passports but are not allowed to vote. Thousands of people, primarily in Latin America, are affected by the court decision.
September 11, 2026 | 2:26 PM
Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, views the court ruling as a "provocation" — Photo: David Canales/imago
From Madrid | Reiner Wandler
They have Spanish citizenship but cannot vote. This is currently the situation for approximately 306,000 Spaniards. The Supreme Court has revoked their voting rights at the request of the far-right parties Vox and Iustitia Europa. These individuals are the grandchildren of exiled democrats, leftists, and trade unionists who once fled abroad to escape fascist terror under dictator General Francisco Franco.
Background of the Law
"Persons born outside Spain as children or grandchildren of individuals who originally held Spanish nationality and lost it or renounced it due to exile for political, ideological, or religious reasons, or because of their sexual orientation or identity, may choose Spanish nationality," states a law from 2022. This grants them entitlement to a Spanish passport and all civil rights. It applies automatically to all those who left the country between July 18, 1936 – the day of the fascist coup and the start of the Civil War – and December 31, 1955.
Most of these families live in South America. The 306,000 people affected by the revocation of voting rights have completed the entire process, obtained their passports, and registered on voter lists at consulates.
Legal Challenge
Vox and Iustitia Europa, ideological successors to those who once seized power violently and ended the democratic republic, view the so-called "Grandchildren Law" as an attempt to manipulate the electorate in favor of the left.
They requested a temporary suspension of the registration of "grandchildren" on voter lists at consulates. The Supreme Court has now granted this request. It sees "a justified, real, and serious risk" that "the objectivity and transparency of the electoral process will be severely compromised." This would result in "irreversible damage to the integrity and regularity of the procedure," as it directly affects an element essential to the rule of law: the expression of the people's will through the exercise of voting rights.
Government Views Decision as Provocation
While consulates may continue to accept applications for voter registration, once completed, the application – according to the judicial order – will be put on hold until a final decision is made on the matter.
In a separate proceeding, the Supreme Court intends to examine the extent to which this measure will be upheld. Given the slow pace of the Spanish judiciary, it is doubtful whether a final ruling will come before the upcoming elections. In May, most regional parliaments and all municipal councils will be elected, and parliament itself by early summer at the latest, thereby deciding the future of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The Spanish government views the court ruling as a "provocation," several ministers state. It is concerning that tens of thousands of Spaniards are losing their voting rights despite retaining their citizenship. By doing so, the top judges are adopting a theory favored by the right, according to the government.
The conservative Partido Popular (PP) has also joined the accusation of planned election manipulation by Sánchez. This comes despite PP leader Alberto Nuñez Feijóo announcing during a visit to Argentina that he would introduce a law granting passports and voting rights to grandchildren if he came to power.
Voter turnout in previous elections shows that the vast majority of those living in Latin America who hold Spanish citizenship do not go to the polls. This will likely not be much different for the newly recognized Spaniards.
Source
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