Constutional Amendment Moves to Senate

 

Earlier today the Spanish Parliament voted in favour of writing a budget deficit cap clause into the constitution in a move that has divided politicians and been the cause of a number of recent protest allies.

The vote saw 316 MP's voting in favour of the measure with just 5 voting against, however, before the law can be recognised it needs to be put before the Senate, which is scheduled to happen next week.

The new law enforces future administrations to abide by a long-term deficit cap, but exceptions can be made in times of natural disaster, recession, or extraordinary emergencies , but only after special parliamentary approval has been granted.

The ruling PSOE and the PP opposition jointly agreed the amendment, but it has still attracted widespread criticism from the Unions and a number of protest groups. A number of unions have called for protests to take place in the capital next Tuesday, 6th September.

If the law is approved by the Senate there will be a 15-day period during which lawmakers can force a referendum, but in order to do this they must have a support of at least 10% of the members of either congress or the senate.