News / EU

Spain approves hefty fines for attending protests

Friday, 13 March 2015 8:00 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 13 March 2015 7:59 AM ]

A man marches during a demonstration called by the "Dignity Marches" platform against the new public security law, dubbed "ley mordaza" (gag law), in Madrid on January 25, 2015. (AFP photo)

The Spanish senate has voted to push forward with changes to the country’s public security laws, a move many see as an intensification of government’s crackdown on freedom of assembly and expression.

The senate on Thursday approved the law which includes hefty fines for people taking part in violent anti-austerity protests across the country.

The new measure is part of changes to the country's Public Security Law and comes three years after Spaniards took part in demonstrations against the government's austerity policy.

Not only Spaniards, but international organizations, including a panel of experts at the United Nations, have criticized the law which is expected to receive the final approval from Spain’s lower house.

Critics have labeled the new measure as the "Gagging Law" as it imposes stiff fines on people participating in peaceful protests.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (pictured below), with members of his Popular Party helping the legislation to pass with 134 to 84 votes in the senate, had described the violent demonstrations at the time as “barbaric acts and vandalism.”

According to the new law, people demonstrating outside strategic buildings could be fined up to 600,000 euros. Publishing the images of security forces could inflict penalties of up to 30,000 euros. Insulting the police will also incur a penalty up to 600 euros.

Curbing anti-austerity protests

Spain has been the scene of massive anti-government rallies over the past months with most of the people opposing the increasing austerity measures by the administration, which have seriously lowered the standards of living in the country. Many say Spain could become another Greece, where anti-austerity measures by the government finally led to the victory of the far-right popular party, Syriza, in a recent election.

Some analysts say the new law is meant to restrict the rising trend of protests in Spain for the removal of the government for its failure to meet people’s financial demands.

Tens of thousands marched in the capital, Madrid, in late January in a rally called by the country’s anti-austerity party, Podemos. Similar protests were held in 2011 when Spain was at the height of economic crisis with a group called the Indignants filling the squares for weeks and demanding political change.

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