VOX bill would toughen penalties for attacks on Spain's national unity

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The Bureau of the Congress of Deputies (Mesa del Congreso) admitted for processing this bill introduced by the VOX parliamentary group, which proposes amending the Criminal Code to protect national unity. It is not an approved law.
2. The bill would add loss of non-original Spanish nationality as a new penalty restricting rights, applicable to naturalized foreigners convicted of the new crimes against the unity of the Nation or of offenses against Spain.
3. The bill would create a new crime against the unity of the Nation: a public authority or official who collaborates with, favors, promotes or tolerates acts against the unity or territorial integrity of Spain or that facilitate the independence of part of the country would face prison terms of ten to twenty years, increased if the offenders are officials of the Government of Spain or of regional governments, and even more if the offender is the Prime Minister or there is cooperation with foreign governments.
4. The bill would toughen the crime of insults or offenses against Spain or its symbols: if committed to support terrorism, alter the constitutional order or promote the independence of part of the territory, the current fine would become one to two years in prison, with an aggravating factor if committed by government officials.
5. The bill would increase the penalties for treason and crimes against the independence of the State when the offenders are the Prime Minister, deputy prime ministers or ministers of the Government of Spain, or members of regional government councils.
6. The law would apply to crimes completed after it takes effect, even if some of the conduct began earlier, and it would enter into force the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

• Public authorities, officials and officeholders who act against the unity of Spain or tolerate such acts: They could face prison terms of ten to twenty years, increased if they are presidents, vice presidents, ministers or members of regional government councils.
• The Prime Minister of Spain: The bill provides the harshest penalty for this office: the penalty raised two levels for the new crimes against the unity of the Nation.
• Foreigners naturalized as Spanish citizens convicted of these crimes: They could lose their Spanish nationality in addition to serving the sentence.
• People who insult or offend Spain or its symbols to support terrorism, alter the constitutional order or promote the independence of part of the territory: The current fine would become one to two years in prison.

Words worth knowing

Ley orgánica (organic law)

A type of Spanish law reserved for major matters, such as the Criminal Code, which requires a special vote in Congress.

Proposición de ley (parliamentary bill)

A text through which a parliamentary group proposes a law. It is not yet a law: it must go through several steps and votes.

Pena privativa de derechos (penalty restricting rights)

A penalty that removes or limits rights of the convicted person, such as holding public office or driving.

Pena superior en grado (penalty raised one level)

An increase of the provided penalty one or two steps beyond its maximum, under Criminal Code rules.

Ultraje (insult or outrage)

A serious offense or insult, in this case against Spain or its symbols, such as the flag or the anthem.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries