Spanish Government Condemns PP's Use of ETA Legacy for Political Gain
On Tuesday, Spain's government urged the Popular Party (PP) to cease weaponizing the dark history of the Basque separatist group ETA for political advantage. Education Minister and government spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, condemned the opposition's method of politicizing an issue that caused immense pain to the Spanish people. She accused the PP of exploiting the historical context of terrorism to mask their lack of constructive proposals and leadership.
The controversy arises from the government's legal reform that validates sentences for ETA prisoners served in other countries, which could potentially reduce sentences for over 40 members of the group. During a press conference following the weekly Council of Ministers, Alegría urged the PP to stop characterizing the government's reform as a mere error or flaw, asserting it was a vital legislative adjustment.
"It is outrageous that the PP uses terrorism to cover its void of proposals and leadership," Alegría stated, rejecting claims that the government had misled the opposition regarding the reform process. She emphasized that the bill had undergone thorough debate, discussion, and voting in both committee and plenary sessions. Furthermore, she highlighted that this legislation mirrors a bill approved during the Rajoy government in 2014, making it disingenuous for the PP to assert ignorance.
Alegría further criticized PP leaders like Miguel Tellado and Isabel Díaz Ayuso for declaring that ETA has grown stronger. She deemed such remarks disrespectful to the victims of terrorism and insulting to the Spanish public, referencing their failure to contribute to efforts aimed at dissolving ETA’s influence.
In contrast, PP President Alberto Núñez Feijóo labeled the government's maneuvering as a disgrace, accusing them of employing a morally dubious parliamentary tactic to accelerate the release of ETA convicts. At an event in Guadalajara, Feijóo admitted a mistake made by his party in Congress but emphasized the moral gap between an error in parliamentary procedure and any intention behind releasing convicted ETA murderers, alleging it was a strategy to bolster Sánchez’s position.
Although the PP initially postponed a scheduled Senate debate on the contentious law, it remains set to proceed next Monday due to its urgent passage through Congress, which did not invite amendments from the Upper House. As the political battle continues, the consequences of this legislative decision are set to resonate deeply within Spanish society, reminding us of the enduring scars of ETA's violent past and the complex political landscape it continues to shape.
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