Francisco Tomás y Valiente

Francisco Tomás y Valiente was a prominent Spanish jurist and president of the Constitutional Court who was assassinated by the terrorist group ETA in 1996. He is newsworthy because Jon Bienzobas, the ETA member convicted of his murder, has recently been granted a third-degree prison status by the Basque Government. This allows Bienzobas to serve his sentence at home, a decision that has sparked controversy and condemnation, particularly from victims' associations like Covite. The granting of this benefit has brought renewed attention to Tomás y Valiente's assassination and the ongoing pain and unresolved issues surrounding ETA's violence. Furthermore, King Felipe VI recently invoked the importance of law in maintaining peace, indirectly referencing the principles that Tomás y Valiente defended and for which he ultimately paid the price.