Bildu Reaches Agreement with Government to Reform Controversial 'Gag Law'
On Thursday, the parliamentary group of Bildu announced a significant agreement with the coalition Government to reform the controversial Citizen Security Law, often referred to as the 'gag law' by its critics. This law came into the spotlight after a modification was made by the People's Party (PP) during its absolute majority in 2015, prompting calls for a revamp ever since.
The Government had already included a reform of this contentious legislation in its Action Plan for Democracy, which was approved by the Council of Ministers two weeks ago. However, Bildu insisted on more comprehensive measures beyond what the Government initially proposed.
In the previous legislature, there was an unsuccessful attempt to reverse some of the more harmful elements of the gag law. A special conference was established to review the law and approved a report with suggested changes; however, this effort stagnated in the Interior Commission. The blockade occurred when Bildu and ERC expressed dissatisfaction, deeming the proposed modifications inadequate.
These two political allies of the Government highlighted critical issues, including the prohibition of 'hot returns' of migrants at borders, the use of rubber bullets by police forces, and the necessity to limit administrative sanctions. Their concerns led to a halt in alterations that had received preliminary support from PSOE, Unidas Podemos, and PNV.
As the debate continues around the reform of the gag law, the recent agreement signals a potential shift in Spain’s approach to citizen security and the rights of individuals. Advocates for human rights and progressive reform are hopeful that the new amendments will address the long-standing criticism of the law and align more closely with democratic values and practices.
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