As of today, the Spanish Senate has proposed a
new law that would limit the number of protests in the country. A fine from
€600 to €600,000 can be imposed on officials who organise illegal protests
throughout the country. A global outcry demanded the law be trashed.
Today, Spanish protesters could only hold
protests against the government if they fulfill certain stricter requirements.
Officials must obtain licenses from regional governments before they could
schedule their protests. Meanwhile, disruptive protests could receive higher
fines.
A fine of €600 goes to protest officials whose
protests are illegal in undisclosed areas. A fine of €30,000 is given if the
protests create disruption or infrastructure and property damages against
parliament and regional government offices. Disrupting operations in Spanish
refineries, nuclear plants and other industrial sites with or without a license
could cost about €600,000 in total fines.
The ‘gag law’, which is to be ratified by the
next month came under fire from different activist groups.
Greenpeace said that it is the citizens’ right
to express their opinion and march against parliament.
Meanwhile, the Platform in Defence of Freedom
of Information said that it is one of the gravest attacks against liberty since
“the time of Franco.”
