The legislative reform that will accelerate the release from prison of 52 ETA members, including seven immediately, is already in force and its consequences will soon begin to materialize. However, the PP and Vox do not want to ignore it “ignominy” of the government and this Wednesday they approved that the Senate begins the institutional conflict with Congress. Both parties had requested it, even if only the proposal for a conflict of powers recorded by the Popular Party and not by Vox was accepted.
The law, transposition of a European standard, reached the Upper House without opposition from any party and, therefore, no amendment or veto was presented to the text sent by Congress. It was during this process that, in agreement with Bildu, the “colada de tapadillo” amendment appeared, according to which sentences served in other countries would allow prison sentences in Spain to be deducted, for the benefit of dozens of ETA detainees.
PP and Vox then deployed a whole battery of maneuvers to try to stop treatment. It was in its last stage, during the vote in plenary session, when the president of the chamber, the people Pedro Rollanconsidered the majority vote against a veto, arguing that this was supported by a legal report from the secretary general, and sent the law to Congress to be voted on again.
Congress, however, rejected this interpretation of the Senate President and made the decision to send the rule to the government for publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and entry into force, which took place on November 8.
“If we do not defend the dignity of this House, who will? – asked PP senator María Salom this Wednesday. Not everything is valid for Pedro Sánchez to continue a little longer at the Moncloa Palace at the cost of using institutions at their convenience and distorting the rule of law.
“It is irresponsible to push state powers to the extreme so that Mr. Sánchez can continue to lead the government,” said his colleague Antonio Silván. “If the rejection of an entire piece of legislation by an absolute majority is not a veto, then what is it?”he asked.
“It’s a phantom veto that no one asked for, no one debated and for which no one voted”responded Senator Antonio Magdaleno of the PSOE, who accused the PP of not respecting the Constitution and wondered “what the popular people of the government will be able to do” if it acts in this way in opposition, creating “an unbreathable political atmosphere”.
Vox spokesperson Paloma Gómez also filed a complaint against the government and accused Sánchez of “shred” the state or have a “identity disorder” institutions putting them in their interest. “Everything we see and suffer on a daily basis is a personal project,” he denounced.
“The PSOE is making indecent use of Congress, approving in a roundabout way measures that benefit its particular interests,” he stressed. The PSOE government is the opposite of the rule of law, it does not respect the separation of powers.
