Lengthy jail sentences for throwing pies at a politician - the "Ley Mordaza"

[Perikles]

I can't believe this Guardian article.

There is the threat of lengthy jail sentences for throwing pies at a politician.

Apparently,

Barcina, president of the north-eastern region of Navarre, was left "dazed and disorientated" and her clothes were damaged, according to court documents.

How awful.

The defence:

Their defence lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, told the Guardian: "This case reveals the very worst side of the Spanish judicial system and its total lack of contact with reality. It shows a corrupt judicial and political class prepared to use public resources to try people that have done nothing more than demonstrate their opposition to the destruction of the forest.

"If these people are convicted, the court will look like a tribunal during the Inquisition rather than a modern court of law."

adding

Boye said the court had rejected all the eyewitnesses called by the defence and accepted only the evidence of two local Spanish policemen who were not present during the incident.

Unbelievable.  The case is mentioned here in Spanish press, but that's two years ago. 

[Guanche]

We have to remember that it wasn't all that long ago that it was a crime to criticize or bring into disrepute the Spanish Royal Family. I've said it before many times Franco is still pumping in the blood of the ruling and upper classes of Spain.

[El Profesor]

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Dice el Estado que la hija del rey es inocente... pero que debe devolver medio millón de euros que no son suyos. ¿Si tú te quedas con medio millón de euros que no son tuyos, la fiscalía será igual de amable y comprensiva? ¿HASTA CUÁNDO?

[Perikles]

Here is a link to a video of the heinous crime.

The woman got a pie on her head. That's all. She says she can't identify the accused because her eyes were full of meringue. 

They face 5 years in jail for doing that, "por un delito de atentado contra la autoridad"

FFS 

[Michael]

Just to put that in perspective, 5 years is what 2 men got here this week for beating someone to death with a hammer. 

[Perikles]

There are moves afoot to define the severity of naughtiness like this, a draft law being considered.

Mientras tanto, la propuesta inicial de Interior incluye, entre otros supuestos, las siguientes infracciones muy graves y graves:

Infracciones muy graves: Multadas con entre 30.001 a 600.000 euros.

- La grabación y difusión de imágenes de agentes de las fuerzas de seguridad en el ejercicio de su trabajo que atenten contra el derecho a su honor o su imagen y que puedan poner en peligro su seguridad o la de la intervención policial correspondiente.

- La perturbación grave del orden en actos públicos, religiosos, deportivos o espectáculos de otro tipo.
.
- Los escraches o actos de acoso a cargos públicos.

These are the very serious category. Others, such as rape and mass murder, embezzlement of public funds and misuse of public office are classified as serious, light, trivial or just perks of the job.

[Nova]

 

[Perikles]

Two years in jail is the sentence. For throwing a pie at a politician.

La Audiencia Nacional ha condenado por atentado contra la autoridad a los tres militantes contra el tren de alta velocidad que arrojaron tres tartas a la entonces presidenta de Navarra, Yolanda Barcina, el 27 de octubre de 2011 cuando participaba en una reunión de trabajo en Toulouse (Francia).


El tribunal ha impuesto una pena de dos años de prisión y 900 euros de multa a los tres militantes que estamparon la tarta en la cara de la actual alcaldesa de Pamplona, Gorka Ovejero, Julio Martín Villanueva e Ibon García. Además, condena a un año de prisión y multa de 900 euros a Mikel Álvarez Forcada, que participó en los hechos pero que no atacó a Barcina, aunque sí jaleó a sus compañeros.

La condena, en principio, no implicaría la entrada en prisión de los condenados. Según el tribunal, los tres activistas cometieron "una acción corporal violenta" al ser golpeada hasta tres veces con una tarta, y tiene en cuenta el hecho de que la víctima es una autoridad pública en el ejercicio de su cargo, por lo que debe considerarse atentado cualificado.

It seems that the severity of the sentence was because it was an attack on a politician in the exercise of her duties. If I understand it correctly, the two-year sentence without previous convictions means they will not actually go to jail.

[Janet]

A new law, called the "ley mordaza" (gag law) was passed last week despite opponents saying that it would take Spain back fifty years. Such arguments together with public protests saw off the proposed strict abortion law, but one aspect of this new law is that such public protests will now be subject to fines of up to €600,000! That is the fine prescribed for unauthorized protests outside "public service" buildings.

Apart from restricting protest, the new law bans the public from taking photographs or videoing  the police when they could be endangered - a clause clearly open to the widest possible official interpretation - and fines of up to €30,000 are now in place for those who do so. Another clause open to very wide interpretation is that of being disrespectful to uniformed officers: anyone showing a "lack of respect", whatever that means, can be fined €600 for the privilege of venting their frustration.

The law was passed narrowly, but passed it has been because of the ruling PP party's majority in Parliament. It will now go to the senate for final approval, but its passage through the upper house is secure because the PP has a large majority there too. JA

[Guanche]

Spain does not seen such a safe place anymore. So there is to be no photographic journalism at any demonstrations for fear of including a police officer in the shot? And TV coverage will it have to be censored? What the hell is 'Lack of respect'? I get the impression that the public will have to lower their eyes when walking past a police officer! A desperate law for a desperate establishment.