Spain has approved a Catalan amnesty bill that will define the Prime Minister’s term.

Spain’s Congress made a historic decision on Thursday, overturning an upper house veto to approve a controversial amnesty for Catalan separatists. The bill, passed by a narrow margin of 177-172 votes, is set to become law once published in the official gazette, potentially paving the way for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s second term and the return of exiled pro-independence leader Carles Puigdemont.

The proposed amnesty has sparked widespread protests and divided opinions across Spain, with 62% of respondents in a recent survey rejecting the idea. However, in Catalonia, where the separatist movement is strongest, 48% of voters supported the bill.

Sanchez had proposed the amnesty as a way to secure support from Catalan separatist parties in parliament, ensuring his continuation as prime minister after a contentious election. He believes the amnesty will promote reconciliation with Catalonia, which has been embroiled in a political crisis since its illegal independence referendum in 2017.

The approval of the bill marks a significant victory for Sanchez and his allies, as it could solidify their alliance with smaller parties in parliament. Puigdemont, the former Catalan leader who fled to Belgium following the failed independence bid, is expected to benefit the most from the amnesty, with the Spanish arrest warrant against him likely to be lifted.

As Catalonia navigates its political landscape following the regional election, all eyes are on Puigdemont’s potential return to Spain for the election of a new Catalan president. The outcome of this amnesty decision could have far-reaching implications for the future of the region and its relationship with the Spanish government.