The Spanish National Prosecutor's Office has initiated a legal challenge against the Basque Government's recent decision to authorize third degree status for Asier Arzalluz Goñi, an ETA member convicted for the 2024 murder of journalist José Luis López de Lacalle. The prosecutor argues that this decision is premature, emphasizing that Arzalluz Goñi is not due for release until 2030, thus questioning the appropriateness of reducing his prison conditions at this time.

Arzalluz Goñi was convicted not only for the murder of López de Lacalle but also for the deaths of a prison official and two civil guards killed by a car bomb in 2008. His case has drawn significant public attention, not least because it parallels a recent decision regarding another ETA member, Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, also known as Txeroki, who was granted a similar status. The prosecutor's office has remained silent on Aspiazu's situation as it still awaits detailed information regarding the application of legal provisions related to early releases.

This development signals ongoing tensions between the Basque Government's approach to rehabilitating imprisoned members of the ETA and the national government's stance, reflecting broader societal debates about justice, punishment, and reconciliation in post-conflict Spain. As the prosecutor articulates concerns about public safety and the message sent regarding serious crimes, this case may reignite discussions on the balance between leniency in sentencing for former ETA members and the needs of victims' families for justice and closure.