The reform of the Citizen Security Law, baptized by its critics as a gag law, has finally passed, after more than four years of debate and dozens of meetings, the presentation process. Now the text, with multiple modifications with respect to the original proposal, goes to the Interior Commission, before it is debated and voted on in plenary. ERC has been the formation that with its vote has allowed to unravel the initiative that was already at risk of declining. However, the future of the reform continues to hang by a thread because the government’s partners, including the Republicans, keep their swords high and consider the changes that are contemplated regarding the law approved by the PP to be insufficient.
The change in position of ERC has been decisive in giving the go-ahead -19 votes compared to 17- to the report prepared by the paper that is now being sent to the Interior Commission. The Republicans warn, however, that their position, contrary to the text of the new law that is intended to be approved, is maintained. They justify their decision today with the argument that otherwise it would have been as much as breathing new life into the rule currently in force. However, the coincidence of his change of position with the announcement of the support given by the PSC to the Catalan Budgets of Pere Aragonès has raised the suspicion that it is a kind of reciprocated favor to the government coalition.
Those who do maintain their opposition to the proposed reform, in addition to the formations of the right, are EH Bildu and Junts. For both, the changes that have been introduced are very insufficient. The abertzale formation insists that if they do not delve deeper into them, the reform of the law would be “light”.
The points that continue to provoke the rejection of the government partners are those referred to the lack of respect for authority, disobedience to members of the security forces, the use of rubber bullets and the forced returns of immigrants.
All these issues are now going live to the Home Affairs Committee and will lead to a barrage of amendments by the different parliamentary forces. However, in this process, the initiatives put forward by parties such as Bildu or ERC have little chance of prospering because they will face rejection not only from the PSOE, but also from the PP, Vox and Cs.
The Socialists maintain that, with the changes that have already been introduced, the new Security law will be light years ahead of the one approved by the popular, but since they are aware that there are still many discrepancies with their allies, they affirm that they are open to continuing dialogue. as long as a balance is preserved between the rights of citizens to demonstrate and express themselves freely and the security and protection guarantees that the police and civil guards must have in the exercise of their work.
If the law passes the Commission procedure, whose start date has not yet been set, it will go to the Plenary for debate and final vote. As it is an organic law, it requires an absolute majority, so on this occasion it would not be enough for the usual allies of the Government to abstain.
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