PP calls on the Government to "nullify" the instruction extending the nationalizations of the 'Law of grandchildren'

The Popular Party (PP) has formally requested the Spanish government to declare null and void an instruction that expands the scope of nationalizations under the so-called "Law of grandchildren," allowing individuals up to four generations removed from Spanish citizens, such as great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren, to claim Spanish nationality, regardless of whether their ancestors were victims of repression during the Spanish Civil War or Francoist dictatorship. The request was made through a formal letter sent to the Ministry of Justice, with the aim of initiating a process of "revisión de nulidad de oficio", an official review of the legality of the measure. This move comes three weeks after the far-right party Vox also raised concerns over the application of the law, which allows descendants of Spanish citizens who lived abroad to apply for nationality, even if they have no direct ties to Spain. The PP argues that the expanded interpretation of the law, particularly its inclusion of individuals whose ancestors were not persecuted, undermines the original intent of the Law of Memory, which aimed to provide redress to those affected by historical repression. According to sources within the PP, the law’s current application could lead to an "irregular increase" in the number of new Spanish nationals, potentially altering demographic statistics in ways that contradict legal principles. The controversy has prompted the Junta Electoral Central (JEC), the body responsible for overseeing electoral processes and nationality applications, to hold closed-door meetings to assess the validity of claims against the expansion of the law. While the majority of the JEC's members agreed that applicants must clearly justify their choice of municipality for registration, some dissenting voices argued that the JEC should take more decisive action to prevent what they describe as an "irreversible and massive increase" in the population count. One such dissenter, Carlos Vidal, a constitutional law professor, argued that the JEC has both the authority and duty to stop the expansion of the census beyond legal boundaries, stating that the body "cannot remain inactive" in the face of such developments. In addition to its legal challenge, the PP has used the occasion to make a political statement, linking its criticism of the government to broader themes of national identity and integrity. During a press conference following the party’s leadership meeting, PP vice-secretary Alma Ezcurra criticized the government for fostering an environment of "mediocrity" and contrasted this with the values demonstrated by the Spanish football team during its recent World Cup victory. She emphasized that the team had achieved success "without arrogance, without medals, and without relying on narratives," suggesting that the government’s approach to governance lacks similar qualities. Ezcurra also took issue with acts of violence committed by radical groups against spectators watching the World Cup finals in Bilbao and Pamplona. She condemned these incidents as unacceptable and called for greater respect for public order and civic responsibility. This dual focus, on legal challenges and political messaging, reflects the PP’s strategy of using multiple fronts to pressure the government and shape public perception. The PP’s request for the revocation of the expanded nationalization rule will now proceed according to established legal procedures. The Ministry of Justice has three months to respond, and if it fails to do so, the petition will be deemed rejected. However, the PP maintains that the government will eventually need to explain why it did not engage with the request. Meanwhile, the debate over the law continues to unfold, with legal experts and political actors weighing in on the implications of expanding nationality rights to include non-repressed descendants.