Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has apologized to victims of sexual abuse for a loophole in the “Only Yes Is Yes” law that allows imprisoned offenders to have their sentences reduced or ended early. The law focused on consent and was created following public outrage over the “Wolf Pack” case. The loophole arose because the new law carries a lower minimum sentence and has enabled some perpetrators convicted before it took effect to seek reduced sentences or early release. As of March 31, 978 cases have seen sentences reduced since the law was passed in October. Sanchez has acknowledged the issue and apologized to victims.
The issue has caused a split within the three-year-old coalition, with the Socialists wanting to reform the law but their ruling partners Unidas Podemos resisting their suggestions. The “Wolf Pack” case involved five men who were jailed for sexual abuse in 2018 after gang-raping a young woman at the Pamplona bull-running festival in 2016.
Majid Alam is a Senior Sub Editor at News18.com who has reported on politics, policy, environment, and health.
