The Spanish government unearths the Official Secrets Act and will declassify the secrets of the Franco regime and the Transition.

Madrid / BarcelonaThe Spanish government is brushing aside the official secrets law that was scrapped at the end of the last term and will approve it at the Council of Ministers this Tuesday, according to a report. The Country and has been confirmed by the ARA. This is the regulation that should allow the declassification of documents that were until now protected by the Francoist secrets law, which was still in force. The Spanish government approved the draft law that was to replace it on August 1, 2022, but the text never saw the light of day because it wasn't even processed in Congress and lapsed with the early elections of July 2023. Now it will try again, and this Tuesday it will approve the law with some changes compared to the text from three years ago. To begin with, the secrecy of all documents classified 45 years ago will be lifted.

In the text drafted in 2022, the declassification of these documents was not automatic, but had to be done at the request of "a natural or legal person directly affected or who can justify a professional interest." The Country, the criterion would be the other way around: justification would have to be given for the "non-declassification" of these documents.

The regulations for declassifying documents would relatively reduce the time periods established in the 2022 rule. Materials classified as "top secret" would be automatically declassified after 45 years (the previous text was 50 years), with a 15-year extension option; in the case of materials classified as "secret," the period would be 35 years (previously it was 40 years), but extendable to 45 years; for "confidential" matters, it would be between 7 and 9 years (previously it was between 7 and 10), and between 4 and 5 (previously it was between 4 and 6) for "restricted" matters.

One of the criticisms that the investiture partners made of the regulations at the time was the deadlines, which they considered too long. In fact, The report prepared by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) also caused a stir. The Spanish government has followed suit. The law will add, however, that information may remain secret indefinitely if it is deemed "with justification and exceptionally" that there are reasons for it not to be revealed.

The new law also changes the legal framework regarding sanctions for disclosing classified information. Until now, only prison sentences were provided for, with the new text introducing an administrative sanctioning regime, with fines ranging from 30,000 euros to 2.5 million euros depending on the severity of the revelations. The text also contemplates the creation of the National Authority for the Protection of Classified Information, which will report to the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, currently headed by Félix Bolaños.

Sánchez is heading for another defeat in Congress.

On the same day that the Spanish executive approves this law, Pedro Sánchez could say goodbye in the last plenary session of the Congress of Deputies before the summer recess, suffering another parliamentary defeat. Among all the issues up for vote this Tuesday, two stand out: the energy decree, with measures to strengthen the Spanish electricity system and avoid another massive power outage, and the update of advance payments for the autonomous communities and city councils.

Regarding the former, Podemos announced its vote against this Monday, so Pedro Sánchez must obtain, at the very least, an abstention from the PP for it to prosper. The Popular Party has not revealed its voting intention, although the energy sector has pressured them not to derail it. Popular Party sources limited themselves to saying this Monday that they were "studying" it. Nor has Junts said what it will do, although sources consulted by ARA indicate that Carles Puigdemont's party is leaning toward the decree. No if they don't get anything in return. One of the options to get the Yeah The main objective of the regional council members would be for the Spanish government to accept the proposal for a moratorium on the useful life of slurry plants, which they have been demanding for some time.

Thus, Tuesday's plenary session is not looking peaceful for Pedro Sánchez's government, although it was expected to be a simple formality, especially considering that the Spanish prime minister is on a tour of Latin America and will not be attending. There is also no control session, so there will be no face-to-face meeting with the leader of the People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo. Thus, after a few weeks marked by the Santos Cerdán case and with corruption cornering the Spanish government, particularly the PSOE, Tuesday's meeting could provide a breath of fresh air to shift the media spotlight away from the government's weakness in the Spanish lower house, especially with regard to its relations with its partners. Added to all this was the Montoro case and the shadow of corruption that once again haunts the Popular Party.

Deliveries on account in doubt

The other decree for which the Spanish government was still seeking the necessary support this Monday is the one that incorporates the update of advance payments. Specifically, the autonomous communities will receive a record €147.412 billion from advance payments. To this amount must be added the positive settlement for 2023. As the State anticipated less revenue from the communities than it ultimately obtained, they will receive another €11.692 billion. Municipalities will receive €28.734 billion.

It should be remembered that advance payments are the resources that the State transfers in advance to the autonomous communities and municipal councils based on the administrations' tax collection forecasts. Currently, the 2023 budget, the last year in which Pedro Sánchez's government approved a state budget, remains in force. They represent the bulk of the resources available to the territories to prepare their budgets and cover basic services. They are updated annually based on economic growth forecasts, but especially on tax revenues, which have performed well in recent years.