Spain moves towards repealing controversial ‘gag law’

SPAIN’S new prime minister has begun work on repealing Spain’s controversial Citizen Safety Law also known as the ‘gag law.’

Pedro Sanchez wants to change the law which came into effect in 2015.

The legislation prohibits demonstrating near congress and the senate, taking photographs of police officers, stopping home evictions, peaceful resistance and sit-ins.

Cross party talks have been taking place on repealing the law with two options currently on the table. Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) proposes pulling the law altogether and the Basque National Party (PNV) recommending that the law should be tweaked pulling its most controversial aspects.

The congressional committee, chaired by the PP, has delayed the process of repeal.

Chair of the Commission, Rafael Marino, said: “Everything would be a lot simpler” should one of the two proposals be eliminated. He has denied that the delay is politically motivated.

The PSOE government still hopes to have a final text ready to submit to Congress by the end of the year.