PSOE: No Reform

Today at Berria.info:

PSOE won’t be backing reform to penalise holding of referendum

Rodriguez Zapatero has declared that “legal absurdities” are not the way to oppose “an illegal plan”

Agencies – MADRID

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, General Secretary of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), was deeply critical of the reform announced by the Spanish Government to punish the holding of unauthorised referendums. Rodriguez Zapatero accused the Spanish Government of “irresponsibility”, “a lack of loyalty” and “legal absurdity.” Zapatero declared that this was why the PSOE would not be supporting the amendments of the PP (ruling Spanish Popular Party) in the Senate or upper house of parliament. He spoke of the decision taken by the Cabinet during a conference on State and Democracy organised by the PSOE.

Rodriguez Zapatero made it clear that he opposed Ibarretxe’s plan but admitted that this time he felt compelled to criticise the Spanish Government, because it had acted “irresponsibly, without loyalty and in a hurry.” He said that even though Ibarretxe’s plan was “illegal”, it should not be opposed “by means of a legal absurdity.” Moreover, “you don’t deal with irresponsibility with yet more irresponsibility,” added the PSOE’s General Secretary. He accused Aznar’s government of having “neglected the formalities.” Rodriguez Zapatero deplored the fact that this had been done “without prior notice and in the absence of dialogue and consultation.”

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