After a tense parliamentary session on Thursday, the majority of Spanish lawmakers voted to reform the criminal code to eliminate the crime of sedition and reduce the penalties for corruption.

During the debate, opposition parties accused Spain’s government of “assaulting” democracy, “fraud,” and of leading a “coup d’etat.”

At one point, politicians from far-right party Vox walked out of parliament. Popular Party politicians refused to vote.

The controversial reform stands to benefit Catalan separatist politicians. Several have been charged with sedition and malversation for their roles in the illegal 2017 independence referendum.

The penal code reform will replace sedition with the crime of “aggravated public disorder,” which will carry a lesser prison sentence.

Meanwhile, the maximum penalty for malversation, or the misuse of public funds, will be reduced to four years when the money involved is not used for personal gain.

On Sunday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended the reform, admitting that it was “risky” but argued that Catalan issues should be debated in the political realm and not be left to the courts.

“We’re defending the union between Spaniards. I don’t want you to go back to the sad and tragic days of 2017,” he told supporters in Barcelona.

Right-wing politicians, however, argued that it will only encourage the Catalan independence movement. Some left-wing figures agreed.

“You can’t negotiate with criminals over their own punishment,” said Emiliano Garcia-Page, socialist president of Castille-La Mancha.

In Thursday’s vote, government-aligned lawmakers also approved a reform to unblock a political stalemate in the Constitutional Court.

The reforms still have to be approved in the Senate and pass a challenge made by opposition parties with the Constitutional Court itself. But they could take effect this year. (Anadolu Agency)