Proposal to solve unresolved ETA crimes and protect victims

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill, introduced by the Popular Party group in the Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados), aims to comply with the April 21, 2022 report by the European Parliament's Petitions Committee, which points to 379 unresolved ETA murders, 44% of the total.
2. It would ban tributes and acts glorifying terrorism. Public authorities would have to remove monuments and plaques, and government authorities could suspend or dissolve acts that humiliate victims. City councils could not facilitate banned gatherings, and the responsible officials would be personally liable for fines.
3. It would push for an investigation of unresolved cases within three months, involving the Public Prosecutor's Office and the State Law Enforcement Agencies, without first assessing whether the crimes have expired under the statute of limitations. It also provides for a panel of jurists to prepare a report on each pending case file and a call for people to cooperate confidentially and anonymously.
4. It would require those convicted of terrorism to pay civil damages, cooperate in investigating pending crimes, and credibly ask victims for forgiveness before getting prison benefits, third-degree classification, or parole, with reports from the National Court (Audiencia Nacional) verifying this.
5. It would toughen the crime of glorifying terrorism: it would also punish acts or messages that humiliate victims or their relatives, with prison sentences of one to three years and fines of twelve to eighteen months, and would let judges order the removal of online content.
6. The bill would be an organic laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes. in articles 2 through 5 and an ordinary law in article 1, and would take effect on the day of its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

• Victims of ETA terrorism and their families: They would get more protection against humiliation and tributes, and would be personally informed of any change in the legal status of their case.
• People convicted of terrorism: They would need to cooperate with justice, pay civil damages, and ask for forgiveness to get prison benefits or parole.
• People who organize or take part in tributes to terrorists: Their acts could be banned and they could face harsher criminal penalties.
• City councils and their officials: They could not facilitate banned gatherings and would be personally liable for fines if they did.
• The Public Prosecutor's Office and the State Law Enforcement Agencies: They would have to push forward investigations of the unresolved ETA cases.

Words worth knowing

Ley orgánica (organic law)

A law that, because it deals with rights and freedoms, needs more votes to pass than a regular law.

Beneficio penitenciario (prison benefit)

Advantages for a person in prison, such as early release or serving the sentence under a lighter regime.

Tercer grado (third degree)

The last and most flexible level of serving a prison sentence, allowing the inmate to leave the facility for most of the day.

Prescripción (statute of limitations)

When a crime can no longer be prosecuted or tried because too much time has passed since it was committed.

Responsabilidad civil (civil liability)

The money the convicted person must pay to repair the harm caused by the crime.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

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