Armengol expels a PP deputy from Congress for exhibiting pepper spray

BarcelonaThe President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, expelled PP deputy Ana Vázquez from the hemicycle this Wednesday after she displayed a canister of pepper spray during the government control session. Armengol called her to order twice and asked her to leave the chamber and leave the spray outside.

"I must call the deputy to order for having shown a weapon in the plenary session," stated Armengol, who defended the decision in application of the Congress regulations. Vázquez ended up leaving the hemicycle amidst applause from a large part of the popular bench.

Three restrooms and a dining room in the Congress sealed off due to the presence of a toxic substance

Following the incident involving Ana Vázquez in the hemicycle, Congress has sealed off three restrooms and a dining room, as confirmed by ARA. A member of the Mauritanian delegation had to receive medical assistance due to symptoms of poisoning.

Congress sources have reported that someone emptied a spray containing a toxic substance in this area, after a worker felt unwell upon inhaling it. There have also been workers who suffered from itching. For the moment, it is not confirmed that this incident is related to the spray exhibited by the PP deputy.

The chamber is reviewing security cameras to try to clarify who emptied the spray.

The Weapons Regulations

Armengol's team has justified the decision with article 5.1.i of the Weapons Regulation, which includes personal defense sprays and other weapons that release gases or aerosols among the prohibited items. The same article, however, establishes an exception for sprays authorized by the Ministry of Health, which can be sold in armories to adults. Therefore, the regulation considers them weapons for regulatory purposes, but it does not consider all sprays illegal.

After the incident, Vázquez assured that the canister was empty and questioned Armengol's actions. "What does (Armengol) mean, that children in Ceuta go to school with weapons? That all women carry weapons?", asked the deputy, who defended that many women carry sprays of this type to protect themselves.

The popular deputy has assured that she wants to give a voice to the women and girls of Ceuta. Vázquez also announced that she will take the canister to a police station and that she will take measures against the presidency of the Congress. All this, amidst the debate about insecurity in the autonomous city.