More Madrid Deputies Walk Out Amidst Censorship Incident in the Assembly
This morning, deputies from the More Madrid party staged a dramatic walkout of a plenary session at the Madrid Assembly, following an incident where the Assembly's president, Enrique Ossorio, silenced Deputy Hugo Martínez Abarca during his critical remarks about the judiciary. Ossorio claimed that discussions pertaining to the judiciary were not permitted in the assembly, despite the fact that Martínez Abarca was addressing a bill that calls for judges to publicly declare their assets and activities.
The event has been described by More Madrid as an unprecedented episode that raises serious concerns about parliamentary freedom. In a satirical remark reflecting their frustration, members of More Madrid pointed out the irony of being censored during a debate specifically about judicial reform.
On social media, Manuela Bergerot, spokesperson for More Madrid, expressed outrage over what she referred to as a concerning escalation of censorship by the ruling Popular Party, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso. "The president of the Assembly has cut off our deputy's speech for discussing the judiciary within the context of a law about the judiciary. This is very serious; we will not allow it," Bergerot stated in her social media posts.
In subsequent media remarks, she noted that this incident occurred during the same week her party submitted a report addressing issues of parliamentary censorship within the Madrid Assembly. This report is slated to be presented to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, emphasizing the need for oversight and accountability in political processes.
More Madrid alleges that the Popular Party is imposing political criteria that dictate what topics can be addressed in the Assembly, contradicting both the principles laid out by the Constitutional Court and the Assembly’s own regulations. As the political climate in Madrid becomes increasingly contentious, this incident illuminates the ongoing struggles surrounding transparency, accountability, and the boundaries of political discourse within Spain's governing bodies.
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