The PSOE asks its partners not to prevent the reform of the 'gag law' due to electoralism

We can try to get the socialists to accept more proposals from ERC and Bildu, and the PNV defends its pact with the PSOE to improve the norm

MADRID, 31 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The spokesman for the Socialist Group in Congress, Patxi López, has asked his parliamentary partners this Tuesday not to prevent the approval of the reform of the Citizen Security Law, for electoral interests and has defended that, with the agreements reached so far, That norm approved with the absolute majority of the PP can now stop being called a 'gag law'.

This was done at a press conference on the eve of the meeting of the presentation on the reform that will take place this Wednesday with a view to approving, if possible, its report, submitting it to the Interior Commission and being able to take it to plenary in February.

To approve the report of the presentation and that it can be taken to the commission, the signatures of the PSOE, Podemos and the PNV are not enough, but they need more deputies. In addition, since it is an organic law, if the text reached the plenary session, it would require an absolute majority to move forward, so it would not be enough with the abstention of the government's parliamentary allies.

López has highlighted the high degree of agreement that has already been reached, emphasizing that with the agreed amendments "the PP law is corrected", putting "the focus on the protection of rights and freedoms and giving guarantees to the Forces and Bodies of State Security". "Everything that came to be called the 'gag law' disappears in the agreement we already have," he asserted.

For this reason, he has asked his parliamentary allies, especially ERC and Bildu, although he has not expressly named them, "not to put other interests" or "political or electoral strategies" ahead. In addition, he has warned that if they vote against the reform "all these advances will be lost" and "if that happens, neither the PSOE nor the Government will be responsible for maintaining the 'gag law'."

On his side, the Bildu speaker, Jon Iñarritu, has replied to Patxi López that it is not true that with what has already been agreed, the added 'gag' to the current law can be removed. "You know that the reality is precisely the opposite. The 'gag law' is named for the most harmful articles (those for which it is most penalized). The PSOE refuses to deactivate them and proposes to maintain a Light Gag Law, in breach of its promise", he replied through a message on his Twitter account, picked up by Europa Press.

For its part, the minority partner of the Government, through the spokesman for United We Can in Congress, Pablo Echenique, has asked the PSOE to agree to more changes proposed by the partners to achieve a repeal as "courageous" as possible of the ' gag law'.

Echenique has indicated that there has been progress in the text of the presentation but important blocking elements persist, fundamentally when it comes to changing the wording of the crime of disobedience and disrespect for authority, the two figures that, according to what he has said, They are the ones that account for the "vast majority of the fines."

Disagreements with ERC and Bildu also persist on the prohibition of the use of rubber balls and those known as 'hot returns'.

The reform on which the groups are working is based on the bill registered in its day by the PNV. Its spokesman, Aitor Esteban, considers that "the moment of truth" has arrived and that everyone "takes a picture" and has rejected that due to the "stubbornness" and the maximalist positions of some groups, it is not possible to "advance" and have a better law. "Nobody is going to be completely satisfied, but if the law improves, it deserves a chance", he has pointed out.

Thus, in line with Patxi López, he has valued that of the 46 modifications proposed by the PNV in its bill, agreements have been sealed on 40, some progress, in his opinion "considerable", which has served to find a " balance" between the principle of security and the guarantee in the exercise of and individual liberties.

In addition, Esteban believes that the "intermediate" proposals that are on the table on two of the most contentious points -- the use of rubber bullets and disrespect and disobedience -- are interesting and can serve to move forward. Of course, with respect to the third open pitfall, related to the so-called 'hot returns', he has indicated that the PNV remains in the provisions of its proposed law.