Catalan court suspends Laura Borràs prison sentence on condition of anti-corruption training

Conditions set by the regional high court

The High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) notified former Catalan Parliament president Laura Borràs on Tuesday of the execution of her sentence, suspending her remaining two-year prison term. The decision was issued by court president Mercè Caso together with magistrates Fernando Lacaba and Jesús María Barrientos. To avoid serving the custodial term, Borràs must complete at least 25 hours of certified training on public administration ethics and avoid committing any criminal offenses for five years.

The court requires the training to cover the legal purposes and ethical standards that guide public administrations. Borràs must submit a structured educational plan to the tribunal within three months for formal approval and subsequent monitoring. The training must be delivered by an accredited public entity, such as the Escola d'Administració Pública de Catalunya or a university.

Contract splitting at the literary institute

The criminal proceedings against Borràs stem from irregular public procurement during her tenure as head of the Institució de les Lletres Catalanes prior to her career in the regional parliament. In 2023, the TSJC convicted her of prevarication and falsifying official documents for splitting public contracts into smaller amounts to bypass statutory bidding rules. The court established that she awarded 18 separate contracts totaling 335,700 euros directly to an acquaintance.

Under the original 2023 ruling, the court sentenced Borràs to four years, six months, and one day in prison, alongside 13 years of disqualification from public office. At the time of sentencing, the magistrates concluded that the mandatory statutory penalty was disproportionate to the underlying facts of the case. Consequently, the tribunal included an explicit request in the judgment urging the central government to grant a partial pardon.

We consider that the penal response forcing us to impose a custodial sentence of a duration that in no case can be less than four years, six months, and one day is disproportionate and excessive for the reality underlying behaviors already classified as criminal.

Partial pardon and penalty reduction

The Spanish Council of Ministers granted the partial pardon under Royal Decree 670/2026 on 28 July 2026, aligning with the terms proposed by the judicial panel. In September 2026, the TSJC formally applied the pardon, commuting her custodial sentence from four and a half years to two years. The 13-year ban on holding elected or administrative public office remained unchanged throughout the commutation process.

With the remaining prison term reduced to two years, Borràs qualified for a conditional suspension under Spanish legal provisions. The magistrates stated that corruption offenses generate a deplorable sense of impunity among citizens that demands strict accountability. To balance the absence of prison time, the tribunal opted to tighten the conditions for suspension by imposing mandatory educational requirements.

Notification and compliance timeline

Following the publication of the order, the civil and penal division of the TSJC summoned Borràs to appear before the court secretariat. This appearance serves to deliver formal legal warnings and instructions under Article 988 bis.4 of the Criminal Procedure Act. The court will formally communicate the mandatory compliance terms and the five-year oversight period during this session.

Borràs has a three-month window from the notification date to submit a formal training syllabus for judicial review. The course must be delivered by an official body such as the Escola d'Administració Pública de Catalunya or an accredited university. If she fails to complete the course, receives an unfavorable evaluation, or commits any new crime within five years, the court may revoke the suspension.