Another political party banned in Spain

Iniciativa Internacionalista, a new party formed for the EU elections, has been banned by the Spanish supreme court. The court judged that it is a reformed edition of Acción Nationalista Vasca and Batasuna. and therefore represents the political wing of separatist group ETA.

The party, which seems to have been standing accross Spain, describes itself as supporting 'state socialism', the protection of rights, an end to capitalism in Europe, independence for the Basque and Catalan countries, and has links with some internationalist/Trotskyite groups in Spain. The Spanish government, which retains the right to ban any political party it alleges is working to represent ETA at the ballot box, stated that it had received information from state security forces that various members of II have differing levels of contact with multiple far-let, violent and 'terrorist' groups in the Basque Country. Among those accused are the party's leader, writer Alfonso Sastre [ES].

It should be clear to anyone that banning political parties is not the way to deal with problems in a democracy. Whether or not Spain is still deemed to be 'emergent', it strikes me that this is not the measured action of a mature government. And now, the illegalisation of parties is beginning to affect polls in the other regions of Spain.

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May 16, 2009 | 'Terror', Politics, Spain 

Comments

2 Responses to “Another political party banned in Spain”

  1. Graeme on May 17th, 2009 10:03 am

    An appalling decision. The Ley de Partidos is being used against all sorts of people with no connection at all to ETA. A predictable outcome for such a bad law.

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  2. Lenox on May 18th, 2009 8:38 pm

    The Spanish rules about 'democracy' defie description. Boy/girl/boy/girl? Like something out of playskool!
    Also – how about people who live in a town/region/country voting – and not just those who are citizens – or of course – who were, several generations ago, before moving to foreign parts?

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