Spain returns to the days of Franco

[ellenrr]

Spanish Congress approves bill sending Spain back to the days of Franco. Senate is expected to pass it.

The ‪#?LeyMordaza‬ (Gag Law) legalizes human rights abuses.

It forbids: public assemblies, peaceful disobedience, impeding an eviction, climbing a building without permission (common Greenpeace protest), gathering in front of Congress, and many more similar.
Enough to make our own local fascists green with envy.

http://revolution-news.com/spain-congress-passes-draconian-gag-law/

[MADem]

1. I lived there in the days of Franco. Let me tell you, the Guardia Civil doesn't mess around.

Brutal basstids in stupid hats, they were.....

How does that kind of thing square with their EU affiliation, though?

[ellenrr]

2. I visited Spain in the day of Franco.

I still remember all those guys in the stupid hats - everywhere.

of course now-a days that wouldn't seem so stark to me, bec. now we in US also have cops everywhere.

but back then, it was very spooky, very intimidating.

does EU affiliation have any requirement about human rights?

Do you still live in Spain?

[MADem]

3. No, I live in America now.

Haven't been back for many years--last time I was there was in the nineties, briefly.

I should think that the EU would frown on such draconian measures, though. Doesn't seem to marry well with their human rights agenda at all. I don't know how they'll sort that out or even if it will be an issue, but it seems like the EU does insist on other "treatment of persons" matters...so why not this, I wonder?

[ellenrr]

4. did you hear of the town in the Andalusia region called Marinaleda?

It is an anarchist utopia and I want to visit it, or I used to think of re-locating there.

Now it sounds like Spain is beating US in the race to become totally fascist.

http://roarmag.org/2014/07/marinaleda-spain-communist-utopia/

[MADem]

6. I lived four or five hours north of Andulusia, in Murcia Province.

Spain is going through tough times lately, the economy is none too good and jobs are scarce.

[ellenrr]

7. "27% of Spaniards are out of work. Yet in one town everyone has a job"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/27-of-spaniards-are-out-of-work-yet-in-one-town-everyone-has-a-job-8612920.html

yes the unemployment is terrible in Spain, as well as in Greece and other countries.

thanks to the neoliberal austerity measures.

MADem, may I ask you if you were born in Spain, or re-patriated there?

I am asking bec. I am trying to collect information for my possible move.
If you like, send me a pm.

[MADem]

9. No, I lived there for about half a decade in the sixties.

I used to know it pretty well. It was like a 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th) home to me for a time. I still have friends who are like family there. Next time I go I will stay for a month or two, but that might not be for awhile.

[PeoViejo]

11. I knew a guy that was shot by the Guardia

He was a US Navy submariner, He got drunk on Liberty and stole the Hat off of one of them. They chased him back to his Boat, shooting at him with submachineguns. He was hit in the Leg, but made it back. A standoff ensued, but eventually the Guardia left. He kept the hat...

[MADem]

13. He's lucky to have lived.

I've seen them chase and shoot at people too. Little bullies. The hats were funny, though.

[Jim Lane]

20. Good question about the EU

According to what I found on the EU's website:

In the EU, fundamental rights are guaranteed nationally by the constitutions of individual countries and at EU level by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (adopted in 2000 and binding on EU countries since 2009). After they have been through the national courts, individuals may, as a last resort, bring a case before the European Court of Human Rights. (emphasis added)

That confirms my understanding that EU membership involves some surrender of sovereignty. One aspect of that surrender is that member nations can't enforce laws that violate the rights guaranteed in the Charter.

According to what seems to be the text of the Charter], it guarantees freedom of expression (Article 11) and freedom of peaceful assembly (Article 12). I don't know how broadly those provisions have been interpreted, though. (Embedding the link won't work for me -- try http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2007:303:0001:0016:EN DF to read the text.) (OK, I just can't get the link to the 2009 text to work. Here's the text as of 2007; the relevant passages are the same.)

[MADem]

21. It's a puzzlement to me, assuming that the information in the OP is accurate...

I just don't understand why they'd pull that, knowing they'd get that sort of challenge down the line.

Perhaps they're planning on a return to the peseta? Ay-ay-ay!!!!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. I bet some idiot Right Winger will claim this is because they're "Liberal"....

I ran into one once that said it's IMPOSSIBLE for there to be such a thing as a "Right Wing Dictator" because Right Wingers are all about LESS government and FREEDOM.

[ellenrr]

8. well, they're right: freedom to kill or jail anyone who disagrees with you. nt

[pinboy3niner]

10. BREAKING NEWS:

Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

[MADem]

14. I don't know why that threw everyone into such gales of laughter...

but it did, make no mistake. I think it was a combination of the rudeness/insensitivity of the concept, combined with complete absurdity. It's ridiculous, but any time I see Garrett Morris doing that schtick, I just can't help busting a gut.

[bigmonkey]

19. For those not alive then ...

Franco lingered near death for quite a while previous to these skits. The news were always something like "Generalissimo Francisco Franco of Spain is still alive/still in a coma/clinging to life ..." etc. It went on for a month or more, as I remember. So, these skits combined a relief that a fascist leader was gone (really gone) with poking fun at the previous continual, useless reports about his condition.

[brooklynite]

12. Perhaps "Revolution News" is painting things a little heavy...

[Ichingcarpenter]

16. No..... it is heavy ... and real

Spain on Thursday finally passed its new controversial Citizen Security Law which opponents say will severely limit civil liberties in the country.

The unpopular law contains retains existing fines of up to €600,000 ($746,000) for unauthorized protests outside buildings "which provide basic services to the community", a definition that encompasses everything from hospitals to universities and the Spanish parliament.

The new law, which the government argues will ensure public security, also forbids the photographing or filming of police officers in situations where doing so could put them in danger. This could result in a fine of up to €30,000. Showing a "lack of respect" to those in uniform, meanwhile, could lead to a fine of €600.

The law has been dubbed the 'ley mordaza' or 'gag law' by opposition groups and the Spanish media, many of whom believe the law will curtail individual rights.

It was passed in the lower house of the Spanish parliament on Thursday, despite all parliamentary groups except for the ruling PP voting against the legislation. It will now be reviewed by the Spanish senate where the PP enjoys an overwhelming majority.

http://www.thelocal.es/20141212/spain-passes-tough-citizens-security-law

[newfie11]

15. OH NO!!!!

Another country not to retire to, damit

[Faryn Balyncd]

17. Very troubling

[deutsey]

18. Seems only fitting in a time I think history will probably dub

"The Regressive Era."

[daredtowork]

22. Now that's terrifying

Can't the rest of Europe place any pressure on human rights pressure on Spain?

Is their unemployment rate still ridiculously high? Last I heard there was a great deal to justly protest.