Bill to ban separatist parties and toughen penalties

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. This is a bill introduced by the VOX parliamentary group, not yet passed. It argues that parties seeking to break up the unity of Spain must be outlawed and proposes reforms to achieve that.
2. The bill would amend the Political Parties Law so that a party can be declared illegal if it threatens the unity of Spain or seeks the separation of part of the national territory. It would also bar such parties from running in elections as successors to an outlawed party.
3. It would reform the Criminal Code: adding loss of Spanish nationality for those who are not Spanish by origin, restoring the crime of sedition with higher prison terms, reinstating the crime of calling illegal referendums with an aggravated form when they question national unity, and increasing penalties for insulting Spain and for treason when committed by government members or other senior officials.
4. It would ban holding any referendum whose subject could concern the territorial integrity of the Nation or national sovereignty.
5. It would delete the provision allowing regions with a special economic system to manage the minimum income benefit, so the State would manage it nationwide. It would also repeal the reform that removed the State's authority over certain local civil servants in the Basque provinces.
6. If passed, the law would enter into force the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

• Political parties seeking the separation of part of the territory or attacking the unity of Spain: Could be declared illegal and dissolved, and their candidacies blocked.
• People committing sedition, treason, insulting Spain, or calling illegal referendums: Would face tougher penalties, including loss of Spanish nationality if not Spanish by origin.
• Members of the national Government and regional governments: Their conduct would carry the penalty in the higher degree.
• Regions with a special economic system and the Basque provinces: Would lose management of the minimum income benefit and authority over certain local civil servants.

Words worth knowing

Proposición de ley

A text by which a parliamentary group proposes a new law; it is not law until passed.

Ley orgánica

A law requiring an absolute majority in Congress because it deals with fundamental rights or other reserved matters.

Sedición

Publicly and riotously rising up to prevent, by force, the application of the laws or the work of the authorities.

Ingreso mínimo vital

A State benefit for people or families with low income.

Unidad de caja

The principle that the State is the sole owner of Social Security resources and benefits across the whole territory.

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