Spanish government tells Supreme Court only 91 of 31,390 'grandchildren' proved exile

Of the 31,390 files reviewed under Spain's Grandchildren Law, only 91 descendants have proven their ancestors' exile, the government has admitted before the Supreme Court. The court is demanding that two ministers deliver the full list of the 163,020 people affected by the voting suspension by 3 p.m. on 28 October 2026.

The Spanish government has acknowledged before the Supreme Court that only **91** descendants naturalized under the Grandchildren Law have proven their ancestors' exile. Staff at the Consular Registries have reviewed **31,390** files to date. That works out at **0.29%** of the total.

The figure emerges in the context of the dispute over this group's right to vote. The Supreme Court has ruled who may vote on **29 November**: those who have proven their exile. The government puts the number of people affected by the order suspending the right to vote at **163,020**.

## Five days to deliver the list of those affected

The High Court has warned the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament, **Félix Bolaños**, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, **José Manuel Albares**, that they have five days to send the complete list of people whose voting rights have been suspended. The deadline expires at 3 p.m. on **28 October 2026**.

The court's order details the consequences of non-compliance. "If, once the five-day period, which in any case will end at 3 p.m. on 28 October 2026, has elapsed, they do not send the nominal reference list, this Chamber may impose a coercive fine or, where appropriate, take the appropriate testimony for the purpose of pursuing any incivil liability that may arise," the text states.

The warning is no small matter: the ministers could face incivil liability and be fined if the list does not arrive on time. The Supreme Court is thus putting the clock on a delivery the government has yet to complete.

## A review pace that leaves out almost everyone

The ratio between files reviewed and exiles proven is the crux of the matter. Of **31,390** reviews, only **91** meet the requirement. The rest of those naturalized under the Grandchildren Law have not demonstrated their ancestors' exile, at least for now.

That figure shapes the electoral roll of those affected. Anyone who cannot prove exile will not be able to vote on **29 November**, according to the Supreme Court's order. The government, for its part, puts the number affected by the suspension at **163,020**, a pool far larger than the files reviewed so far.

The Grandchildren Law has allowed descendants of Spaniards abroad to obtain Spanish nationality. The dispute now centres on who meets the requirements to cast a vote in the upcoming elections.

## What proving exile means

The requirement is not nationality, but proof of the ancestors' exile. That distinction explains why thousands of reviewed files have not resulted in recognition of the right to vote. The proof requires documentation showing the forced departure or exile of the relative from whom the applicant descends.

With **91** proven cases against **31,390** reviewed, the proportion is minimal. The Supreme Court has set a date and time for delivering the nominal list. If the ministers fail to send it, the court may fine them or take testimony to pursue incivil liability.

The figure of **163,020** people affected by the voting suspension shows the scale of the conflict. The government has until 3 p.m. on **28 October 2026** to identify all of them before the Supreme Court.