The legal controversy surrounding the Grandchildren's Law in Spain extends to a new group of naturalized individuals: the adult children of those who acquired Spanish citizenship through this legislation, including descendants of Spaniards living in Cuba.
The Iustitia Europa party announced this Tuesday, through an official statement, that it has requested the Supreme Court to extend the electoral restrictions to those who obtained nationality through Annex III of the Law of Democratic Memory, known as the Grandchildren's Law.
The request does not mean that the Supreme Court has approved a new suspension. For now, the court must review the application and decide whether to adopt the proposed measures.
Annex III allowed adult children of individuals who previously acquired citizenship under specific provisions of this legislation to obtain Spanish nationality.
According to the data cited by Iustitia Europa, as of July 31, 2026, there had been 189,678 registrations through this method. By the end of August, the number had risen to 195,872, while another 134,405 applications were approved but pending registration.
These figures do not necessarily represent the number of people who will be able to vote on November 29, as they must be registered in the Electoral Census of Absent Residents (CERA) to do so from abroad.
The training suggests that the votes of the affected voters should be received but remain separated and uncounted until the authorities verify the situation of each individual.
According to reported by La Sexta, the party is also proposing an alternative: that only the children of parents included in the previous restrictions be identified, and the voting rights of that group be temporarily suspended.
The difference is significant. The first proposal could reach all voters from Annex III registered in the CERA, while the second would be limited to those with parents affected by previous judicial measures.
The association Hazte Oír has also requested the Supreme Court to examine the situation of this group and for the electoral authorities to provide the necessary data to identify it.
The president of Iustitia Europa, Luis María Pardo, criticized the uncertainty surrounding the electoral roll just weeks before the general elections.
"Less than a month before the elections, we still do not know for certain which census we will be voting with. This is unacceptable and extremely serious," he stated.
For Cubans who obtained Spanish nationality through Annex III, the new application raises questions about their electoral participation.
Cuba is among the countries with the highest demand for nationalizations under the Law of Grandchildren.
The Consulate General of Spain in Havana received over 107,000 applications during 2025, and it is estimated that more than 350,000 Cubans began procedures since October 2022.
However, there is no verified breakdown that allows us to determine how many Cubans are part of the 189,678 registrations in Annex III, nor how many could be affected by a new judicial decision.
The controversy originated from an administrative instruction in 2022 that streamlined certain nationality applications by establishing criteria to recognize the status of exiles among Spaniards who left their country between 1936 and 1955.
Organizations like Iustitia Europa questioned that interpretation, believing it could broaden the conditions outlined in the law.
As a result of the litigation, the Supreme Court issued precautionary measures regarding the electoral effects of certain nationalizations and maintained those restrictions on October 12.
The previous suspension potentially affects 163,020 naturalized citizens, whose files must be reviewed to determine if they meet the corresponding legal requirements.
Last weekend, the Spanish government ordered the consulates to open in order to speed up the preparation of the list of the 163,020 affected citizens, which must be submitted to the Supreme Court by Wednesday, October 28, at 3:00 p.m.
Failure to meet the deadline could result in fines of 1,000 euros against the responsible officials, which can be imposed repeatedly until the documentation is submitted.
By October 21, the consulates had reviewed 31,390 files and issued only 91 certificates confirming the status of exile.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, acknowledged the difficulties in completing the verifications before the elections on November 29.
The new request adds another task: to identify the beneficiaries of Annex III and check if their parents are included in the previous suspension.
It is important to clarify that these measures affect the vote; they do not mean that naturalized citizens have lost their Spanish citizenship.
The controversy has stirred concern among Cubans who fear repercussions regarding their passports and nationalities.
On October 13th, the immigration specialist Estela Marina Pérez Cabrera explained the concerns of numerous Cubans regarding the litigation.
"What worries people is that their nationality will be revoked," said the president of the Association of Descendants of Spaniards Worldwide (ADEM).
However, the suspension of the right to vote in these elections and the possible annulment of a nationality are different legal matters.
The precautionary measures known refer to electoral participation and do not order the general withdrawal of nationalities or Spanish passports.
For now, Cuban nationals who acquired citizenship through Annex III must stay vigilant regarding the Supreme Court's decision, which will determine whether the new application affects their right to vote in the elections on November 29.
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