The climate of tension sponsored mainly by Vox representatives in Congress has not let up in recent weeks. The confrontation, which is becoming increasingly evident between the different political forces, far from diminishing, has grown even on the eve of the 44th anniversary of the approval of the Constitution, a date for which the spirit of “harmony” and “coexistence”.
That is why, as she has done on other occasions, the president of Congress, Meritxell Batetwill predictably display these words again this Tuesday in his speech on the steps of the Puerta de los Leones, accompanied by the president of the Senate, Ander Gil, the president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the representatives of the high institutions of the Condition.
However, the event will not have the presence of the ultra-right, for the first time, nor of the nationalist and pro-independence groups, as is usual, although for reasons other than those motivated by Vox.
Already in the previous days, during the plenary sessions, the Presidency of Congress has scolded their honorable members, both generally and individually, for the inappropriate use of expressions or words pronounced from the rostrum. Likewise, they have asked the deputies to reflect and observe the decorum that is required of them.
The growing tension, described as “political violence” by Unidas Podemos, had its main trigger in the personal attack made by the Vox deputy Carla Toscano towards the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, during the Budget debate on November 23 .
The problem, as various forces within the parliamentary arc have criticized, is that all the outbursts and lack of respect towards adversaries are put in the same bag, as is the case with the ideological label “fascist” that the left uses to refer to Vox and the insults that the ultras pour against the parliamentary allies of the Government, that is, “filoetarras” in reference to EH Bildu.
These calls for order by the governing body of the Lower House have been diluted in the eternal debate between freedom of expression and lack of respect, for which there is still no clear consensus, neither on the part of the Congressional board nor by parliamentary groups.
On the other hand, Montero’s accusation against the popular bench of “promoting the culture of rape”, as a result of the institutional campaigns against sexual violence against women in Galicia and Madrid that affect the blaming of the victims, has unleashed a new wave of criticism towards the head of Equality.
The leader of Podemos had already once again been the main objective to be overthrown by PP and Vox for the reduction of sentences for sexual offenders after the perverse application of the law of the only yes is yesso this accusation has served the right to demand his resignation for the umpteenth time.
The anniversary of the Constitution will also be used by the groups, especially the PSOE, to demonstrate the breach of the Magna Carta by continue to block the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). Already this Monday, the spokesperson for the Socialists in the Senate, Eva Granados, focused on it by asking the president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, “to abandon the anti-system and anti-constitutional attitude.”
And it is that, the conservatives frustrated a few weeks ago a new renewal attempt of the governing body of judges, whose mandate has expired just four years, due to the subsequent agreement of the Government with ERC to repeal the crime of sedition, which meant the PP’s twentieth excuse.
The differences between the two main political forces do not stop there. The confrontation of the PP with the formation of Pedro Sánchez, mainly due to his agreements with his partners in Congress, complicate the pending reform for a year and a half to eliminate “diminished” from the Constitution. The modification of article 49 of the supreme norm is complicated by the rejection of PP and Vox.
Likewise, despite the majorities that are required for this and that currently do not exist (at least 210 seats are needed), the debate on reforming the Constitution has resurfaced, especially in recent years. The leftist, nationalist and independentist formations demand to change the wording of the Magna Carta to include the right to self-determination or promote the decentralization of the territories, while the dream of moving towards a republic becomes almost impossible.
