From party financing to military service: when Congress legislates from outside the cabinet

MadridThe main function of the Congress of Deputies – along with the Senate – is to draft, process, and approve laws. Typically, the laws that end up being published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) originate from the Spanish government, which often initiates them through the Council of Ministers and then faces the challenge of securing the necessary votes for their passage. In contrast, it is very rare for parliamentary groups to manage to leave their own mark on the BOE. Yesterday's vote by approve the law against multiple recidivism by Junts It is a rare elderly In recent years, this hadn't been seen since 2018, and this legislative term hadn't even begun. However, this had become commonplace. Since 2011, it was a rare phenomenon—three times with Mariano Rajoy in La Moncloa, already without an absolute majority, and twice with Pedro Sánchez—but previously, Spanish presidents had reached agreements with the parliamentary groups to pass their legislative proposals. In total, 67 laws.

Between 2004 and 2011, twenty regional laws were passed under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. During José María Aznar's presidency, there were sixteen—especially when he lacked an absolute majority. And under Felipe González, the figure was 28. Throughout that period, the main players were CiU—with twenty in total—and Izquierda Unida—with fifteen. Although, from the opposition, the PP—twelve—and the PSOE—ten—also contributed. Far behind these figures are the three passed by the PNV, the two by ERC, and those passed by Ciutadans and PDeCAT. What were the laws about? Political affiliation and topics

In 25 years, from 1983 to 2011, Convergència i Unió passed twenty laws, making it the party that legislated the most from outside the Spanish government. The subjects were varied. In 1998, before military service ceased to be compulsory, acknowledged The right to refuse military service for conscientious objectors, who were exempt and, in exchange, had to perform community service. CiU also pushed for the Spanish justice system to... could pursue Female genital mutilation committed outside the State by residents in Spain and why all the mayors could hold weddings.

In 1992, Girona and Lleida they ceased to beGirona and Lleida A law passed by CiU and another regulation allowed insurance companies to sign in Catalan. This was similar to what happened in 1999 with the United Left of the Valencian Country. introduced the Valencian place names of Alicante, Castellón and Valencia and in 2011 the PNV He succeeded with the three Basque provinces. In economic terms, Convergència promoted laws to extend the permit for paternity by birth from thirteen days to four weeks – now it is 16 for both parents – by to make compatible non-contributory disability pensions with paid work and by struggle against late payments in commercial transactions. And eight years ago, Democracy and Freedom – the PDECat brand – gave the green light to a law on illegal employment. Today, Junts hopes that the PSOE will unfreeze the law it presented months ago on this matter.

ERC regulates party financing

For its part, Esquerra Republicana has managed to get two of its laws passed. In 2007 impulse The current law on the financing of political parties. Among other things, it prohibited anonymous donations and limited donations from a single person to €30,000 per year – now the threshold has increased to €50,000. The other law bearing the ERC's stamp It was the creation from the Budget Office of the Spanish Parliament to "bring transparency" to the execution of the national budget. This legislative session, the Republicans have presented, among other things, a law to Playing for the Spanish national team should not be mandatoryAnd they are negotiating with the PSOE the regulation so that Catalonia can collect 100% of the IRPF, which is currently stalled by the Treasury.

Journalists, drugs, disabilities, and large families

There have also been laws passed by state parties that, despite not being part of the cabinet, have received approval. Six examples. In 2017, the PSOE got Eliminate the possibility of approving RTVE Board members by an absolute majority. This measure was introduced by Mariano Rajoy and reinstated by Pedro Sánchez a year ago. And in 2003 had happened The quota that should have been reserved for people with disabilities in public job offers was increased from 3% to 5%.

The PP forced judges to immediately destroy any toxic drugs or narcotics that are seized, typified The apology for the crimes of genocide was abolished, and an aggravating circumstance was introduced for crimes against persons and property if the motivation was racist or anti-Semitic. Finally, United Left regulated the conscience clause for journalists to allow them to refuse to write news stories "contrary to the ethical principles of communication" and broad the concept of large family to those that had two children and one of them was "disabled or incapable of working".