The Basque government has made a controversial decision to grant Asier Arzalluz, a former member of the terrorist group ETA, the third-degree prison status, which will allow him to serve his 30-year sentence at home. This decision follows the rationale provided by Justice Minister María Jesús San José of the PSOE, who defended similar concessions given to other ETA members, sparking public debate over the appropriateness of such measures. Arzalluz was part of the Totto command responsible for the 2000 assassination of José Luis López de Lacalle, an intellectual and collaborator with the news outlet El Mundo.

Asier Arzalluz has a record of serious offenses, including murder, attempted murder, and terrorism-related crimes, accumulating significant prison time for his actions. His release into a less restrictive environment has reignited discussions about the treatment of ETA members in Spain, particularly in regions where the group operated extensively. Critics argue that such leniency undermines the severity of their crimes and disregards the impact on victims and their families, while supporters claim it is essential for rehabilitation and reducing prison overpopulation.

The debate surrounding Arzalluz’s status gains complexity with the backdrop of current Spanish politics, as parties navigate the historical narratives tied to ETA and its legacy. This decision may affect the landscape of politics in the Basque Country and beyond, as it raises questions about justice, memory, and how society reconciles with its past, particularly in relation to terrorism and its aftermath.