Spanish Constitutional Court Law reformed to suspend those who don’t comply with its rulings

Madrid (CNA).- The Spanish Senate approved this Thursday the reform of the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) Law with 143 votes in favour, 80 against and 1 abstention. The reform will become effective in the following days, when it is published in Spain's Official Journal (BOE) and will allow the Constitutional Court to fine and even suspend from office those public servants, politicians and authorities who don’t comply with its rulings. The reform proposal was announced a month ago by the People's Party (PP) leader in Catalonia, Xavier García Albiol, and was approved as a matter of urgency. Albiol stated that this amendment to the Constitutional Law will work as a barrier to dissuade “anybody from declaring Catalonia’s independence”. The entire opposition has described the reform as "an electoral act" and accused the PP of "manipulating the Spanish justice system with political motivations".

The reform of the Spanish Constitutional Law to make sure that the TC's rulings are adhered to by civil servants and politicians has finally been approved. This Thursday, the Spanish Senate accepted the reform with 143 votes in favour (PP and Spanish Nationalist UPyD), 80 against (Spanish Socialist Party, Centre-right Catalan Nationalist coalition CiU, Basque Nationalist PNB, Entesa and the Mixt Group) and the abstention of Anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans. The reform will allow the Constitutional Court to fine and even suspend from office those public servants, politicians and authorities who don’t comply with its rulings.

"This reform reinforces democracy and the Rule of Law" stated Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy. According to the Spanish executive, the measure is a "guarantee" to stop "those who want to break Spain" from doing so.

Express reform approved within 45 days

The People's Party (PP) leader in Catalonia, Xavier García Albiol, presented the proposal a month ago as a barrier "to dissuade anybody from declaring Catalonia’s independence”. The executive admitted that it will be approved as a matter of urgency and before the end of the term. 45 days after its first announcement, the law has been approved as a matter of urgency, which implies avoiding procedures such as being submitted to the Council of State. The reform will become effective in the following days, once it is published in Spain's Official Journal (BOE).

The opposition considers the reform an "unnecessary" "political" measure

The entire opposition has described the reform as "an electoral act" and accused PP of "manipulating the Spanish Justice with political motivations".

Centre-right Catalan Nationalist coalition CiU's spokesperson in the Spanish Congress, Jose Lluís Cleries, was critical of the fact that the PP wanted to reform the law "in a few days and as quick as possible". "The PP wants to go back to a Spain in black and white" he stated and urged the executive to "recall this mess of a law". Cleries added that the Spanish government won't stop Catalan citizens with trials.

Left wing pro-independence ERC assured that they will disobey any illegitimate ruling from the court. "Disobeying is an act of freedom" stated ERC senator Ester Capella and referred to the PP members as "executioners of the democratic system". He concluded that the PP has exchanged "the soldiers for the TC" to carry out their policies.

The Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) assured that the PP "contributes to increase the pro-independence feeling in Catalonia" and added that the TC's law reform was "absolutely electoral and unnecessary". "In 35 years no court nor magistrate has missed this reform" stated senator and former President of the Catalan Government, José Montilla.