Spain’s government, parliament, administration and business must have a quota of women in the future, as Sanchez said Saturday during a meeting of his party in Madrid. “If women make up half of society, then they are also entitled to half of political and economic power.”
Women already make up 60% of the current government, but far less than 50% in Madrid’s two chambers of parliament. For many other areas of important positions in society, it is predicted that each of the two sexes will occupy at least 40% of the positions. The bill is expected to be approved by the Cabinet next Tuesday. Some of the plans provide for transitional periods of several years and changes in the law.
Lots of news for women
About two weeks ago, Spain’s parliament passed new laws that specifically affect women. A new abortion law guarantees abortion in public health centers and has lowered the age for an abortion without parental consent to 16. In addition, a mandatory three-day reflection period has been abolished. Free distribution of the morning-after pill was also ensured.
“Menstrual leave” is also a novelty in Europe: as a result, women will be able to stay away from work if they have severe menstrual problems. 185 deputies voted in favor of the abortion reform, 154 against, the “menstrual leave” was approved with 185 votes in favor, 154 against and three abstentions.
debates over gender choice
Another law allows gender reassignment through a simple administrative declaration from the age of 16. Teens ages 14-16 are also now free to choose their gender if their parents or legal guardians agree, and teens ages 12-14 also need permission from a judge. 191 deputies voted in favour, 60 voted against and an unusually large number (91) abstained. The law was criticized by the conservative opposition and the Catholic Church. It also provoked debates within the ruling leftist coalition. The Minister of Equal Opportunities, Irene Montero (Podemos), on the other hand, praised the new laws in the short message service Twitter: “Today is a historic day for the advancement of feminist rights”.
AP/Europa Press/Ricardo Rubio Pedro Sanchez has been prime minister since 2018. This year he has to face the choice.
The failed reform of the sexual penal law
But it wasn’t just heated arguments over the gender selection law: Sánchez’s socialist PSOE coalition government and the left-wing alternative Podemos is currently in turmoil over a dispute over the sexual penal law. The “Yes Only Means Yes” law passed last year, which was supposed to make it easier to convict sex offenders and better protect women, has led to more than 721 sentence reductions and 74 early releases of sex offenders in recent months, contrary to intentions. of the legislator. This sparked fear and a storm of outrage across the country.
Since early October, judges have reduced the sentences of more than 400 incarcerated offenders following the enactment of the rulebook, which sets lower minimum sentences in some cases. Dozens of sex offenders have been released earlier than expected – including a 39-year-old man in Lleida, Catalonia, who raped 17 women and had his sentence reduced from 15 to nine years.
Lower inflation in Spain
Spain is one of the countries in Europe that best managed to contain inflation due to the energy crisis. State intervention and bailouts of billions meant the inflation rate was 6.1% in February. Economic growth also remains positive.
Turbulence between PSOE and Podemos
Shortly after implementation, the law now needs to be revised. The mistake also generated a crisis in the government because the PSOE presented the reform proposal without first having reached an agreement with Podemos – and this in an election year: local and regional elections are on the agenda this year and parliamentarians at the end of the year.
So far, PSOE and Podemos have been unable to reach an agreement on how the law should be amended. Therefore, it was not ruled out that the PSOE could pass the law in parliament with the votes of the conservative opposition against its own coalition partner. This can happen on March 9, the day after International Women’s Day. “We don’t want a return to a patriarchal system where, as a victim, you were asked if your legs were properly closed,” Montero raged. However, PSOE parliamentary group spokesman Patxi Lopez dismissed such fears and stated that the principle of consent of all those involved in sexual acts would not be deviated.
The law also criminalized “intimidating” compliments and the distribution of sex tapes. With this initiative, the government responded to several cases of gang rape in the past year, in which the perpetrators got away with relatively light sentences.