Shhhh … new Citizens Safety Law will fine insult or abuse against Spain and its “officials”

[Janet]

In a new law that has been approved by cabinet and is currently starting its process through Parliament, Spain is legislating against "offenses against Spain". The new Citizens Safety Law will see fines of up to €30,000  for "insults or abuse" levied against the country or its officials. "Insult or abuse" is deemed to include shouting, carrying placards, protesting, or demonstrating, even joining a picket line is specified, as is helping prevent an eviction.

Only the other day someone was sentenced to two years in prison for placing a custard pie on the head of a politician. The protester was deemed to have "humiliated" the woman in the course of her duties. He will not go to prison as a two year sentence for a first offender results in the sentence being suspended, but if that is the force of existing legislation, one wonders how severely the ruling conservative party envisages the need for the new law.

The Parliamentary opposition, together with liberty groups, have denounced the measures as repressive. Some use stronger language, but that strong language is likely soon to become illegal on the grounds that it is insulting or abusive. Greenpeace España spokeswoman Sara del Río said that the government was breaking the rules of play in a democracy, and commited the organization to a public awareness campaign to ensure that Spaniards raise their voices against the Bill.

The voices already ranged against the Bill have at least achieved the reduction of the proposed penalties. Originally, the law called for fines of up to €30,000 on those who take part in a botellón, and up to €600,000 for those who organize demonstrations without a permit! Fines for those crimes have been dropped to €1,000 and €30,000 respectively.

The actual object of the law seems to be the anticipated increasing protests from independence-minded regions like Catalonia which want to break away from Spain, but it seems to me that these measures are a real step backward in a democracy that really is still in its childhood, if not actual infancy. How long before even this personal opinion is censored because it's "abusive" or "insulting"? Well, early next year is when this law is likely to come into force, so we won't have long to wait to find out. JA

[Perikles]

What is not clear to me is whether insulting Spain is a requirement, or whether insulting an individual politician is also included. I mean that a placard saying "Spain is a dump" is illegal, but is also "The Mayor is a crook" also illegal, even though it is perfectly true? 

This is not democracy on any level.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Good thing most of them can't understand us when we speak English.

[Janet]

They'd better get some big cells in the police stations because if this sort of thing continues there'll be more locked up than free! HIJO DE PUTA ...  literally "bastard" because it means son of a whore ... that's what this crowd is shouting beyond the 50m police cordon that was necessary when Indistria minister Soría visited his home town in Gran Canaria yesterday to give the opening address ...

[poker]

Are they going to put all dutch peaple in prison now for 2 years ?
As they say Spain can't play football . ;D