An ETA member convicted for the murder of judge Francisco Tomás y Valiente has been granted transitional freedom due to a PSOE government initiative, amidst broader discussions on the leniency towards former ETA members.
Jon Bienzobas Arretxe, an ex-member of the Basque separatist group ETA, has been granted transitional freedom nearly thirty years after his conviction for the murder of Francisco Tomás y Valiente, a former judge of the Spanish Constitutional Court. This decision has sparked controversy, as it aligns with recent initiatives by the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) aimed at addressing the legal status of former ETA members. The PSOE's policy has faced significant scrutiny from various political factions and has reignited discussions about the justice served in cases involving terrorism in Spain.
The murder of Francisco Tomás y Valiente occurred on February 14, 1996, when Bienzobas Arretxe, posing as a student, entered a lecture room at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and shot the judge three times. This act was part of a brutal campaign of violence by ETA during that period, aimed at undermining the Spanish state. Valiente was known for his contributions to Spain’s constitutional democracy, and his assassination marked a significant event in the country’s history of dealing with terrorism.
The recent release of Bienzobas Arretxe is part of a broader pattern of leniency towards former ETA prisoners, which many critics assert undermines the pain of victims' families and the legacy of the fight against terrorism in Spain. Proponents of the PSOE policy argue it is a necessary step towards reconciliation and peacebuilding in a post-terrorism society, although it continues to polarize public opinion and political discourse in the country.
