03.28 - Spain Today News 21 September 2026

🇪🇸 Here is the news summary from Spain Today:1. Judicial Setbacks for Catalan AmnestySpain's Supreme Court has rejected applying the amnesty law to former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and ex-minister Antoni Comín for embezzlement, keeping national arrest warrants active. Judge Pablo Llarena determined that while a European Court of Justice (TJUE) ruling dismissed impacts on EU financial interests, the exclusion based on personal financial benefit remains applicable. Concurrently, the Court of Auditors rejected appeals to absolve financial liability for referendum expenses. At the Constitutional Court, a draft ruling by magistrate José María Macías supporting the Supreme Court's position on Jordi Turull's appeal faces a plenary vote, setting a potential precedent for Puigdemont. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños stated that full application of the law remains a "matter of time".2. Fuel Prices Surge Past €2 per LitreFuel prices across Spain have escalated, with petrol exceeding €2 per litre at numerous stations amidst global supply bottlenecks caused by conflict in Iran, Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions, and Russian export reductions. The International Energy Agency projects Hormuz crude flows will not recover until 2027. With current fuel subsidies set to expire on 30 September, the government is assessing whether to extend price relief for consumers and road transport operators.3. Stiff Resistance to New Data Centre RegulationsThe Spanish government has finalized a draft royal decree requiring new data centres with over 1 MW capacity to source 80% of their power from new-generation renewable energy. Industry association Spain DC warned the rule acts as a "de facto prohibition" that risks up to €9 billion in planned investments across three international projects. Government ministers defend the measures to prevent a speculative bubble and protect consumer electricity bills, whereas environmental researchers argue the decree is insufficient and demand a statewide moratorium and water footprint controls.4. Former King Juan Carlos I Awarded Literature PrizeFormer King Juan Carlos I received the Saint-Simon Prize in France for his memoirs, Reconciliación, co-authored with Laurence Debray. Speaking at the event, the former monarch—residing in Abu Dhabi for over six years—called the book his "final legacy" and declared, "Wherever I live, I will always belong to Spain". This marks the first time the historical memorialist award has been presented to a monarch.