The Congress of Deputies will debate and vote on 10 September 2026 on a bill from the group Sumar, which aims to make it easier for Sahrawis born during Spanish administration in Western Sahara and their direct descendants to obtain Spanish nationality. The draft provides for naturalisation by “carta de naturaleza” on a case-by-case basis and sets 29 September 1977 as the cut-off date. Evidence could include, among other things, former Spanish identity documents, birth certificates, school records or medical certificates. Applications would have to be submitted within three years of the law coming into force; the administration would generally have one year to decide.
The proposal was approved on 23 July 2026 by the Justice Committee and referred to the plenary. Broad, though not unanimous, support is expected in today’s vote: the Partido Popular had considered abstaining, Vox has announced it will oppose the proposal. Left-wing parties and Sahrawi organisations see it as a belated correction of Spain’s historical responsibility. Opposition critics link the debate to foreign policy towards Morocco and accuse the government of Pedro Sánchez being overly accommodating towards Rabat . These accusations are political assessments; they have not been established by a court or under international law.
The vote takes place amid heightened tensions at the border: authorities have recently recorded increased arrivals in Ceuta . Regardless of the domestic political disputes, the next steps in the legislative process are formal: following the decision in the Congress of Deputies, the bill goes to the Senate; the new rules will become binding only once published in the Official State Gazette and subsequently implemented by the competent authorities. The scope and pace of implementation will depend on how the criteria are interpreted and how applications are processed.
The precise definition of who qualifies and the choice of cut-off date are politically contentious. Supporters emphasise the particular legal ties arising from Spain’s former administration. Opponents warn of unclear knock-on effects and point to possible diplomatic tensions with Rabat. Further amendments to the details, such as deadlines or evidence requirements, may be made as the bill proceeds. One thing is clear: approval today would initially set the political framework; the law would take effect only after the entire legislative process has been completed.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).