Congress legal advisers recommend suspending PP deputy over pepper-spray incident
Legal advisers to the Spanish Congress have drafted a report that could lead to a temporary suspension of PP deputy Ana Belén Vázquez for displaying a pepper-spray during a government-control session.
A legal opinion issued by the Congress of the Deputies’ counsel argues that Ana Belén Vázquez, a deputy for the Partido Popular, should face a temporary suspension after she brandished a pepper-spray, deemed a weapon by the chamber’s regulations, during a session of government oversight. The document, which will be examined by the Congress Board on Tuesday, cites article 101.1.2 of the Rules of Procedure and anticipates that the PSOE and Sumar majority will vote for disciplinary action, potentially including a few days’ suspension and a monetary penalty.
Security footage traced the spray’s movement from the hemicycle to the building’s ventilation system, leading to the evacuation of bathrooms, corridors and the lower-floor restaurant, and exposing a Mauritanian parliamentary delegation to irritant gases. Twelve congressional staff required urgent medical attention, and a catering worker from Mediterránea Group suffered serious health effects, remaining on sick leave until at least January. The report does not propose any direct sanction against the PP communication adviser who handled the spray.
Why it matters
It highlights how parliamentary rules are applied to ensure safety and accountability within Spain’s legislature.
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