The Plenary of the Congress rejected a non-binding proposal from Podemos on Wednesday urging the Government to approve a regularization process for all migrants arriving in Spain before May 20, 2025.
The text was supported by Podemos, Sumar, BNG, EH Bildu, and ERC, who negotiated changes to Podemos’ original initiative, with the PP, Vox, Junts, and PNV voting against it, and the PSOE abstaining. In total, it received 46 votes in favor, 183 votes against, and 119 abstentions.
The Government’s partners joined forces on Tuesday in Congress to pressure the PSOE on the Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) to grant extraordinary regularization to half a million foreign nationals. This was done by the ‘purple’ parties with Sumar, BNG, EH Bildu, and ERC through a substitute amendment.
During the debate on the non-binding resolution, Podemos MP Ione Belarra accused the PSOE of blocking the ILP, first in the Congress Bureau and then in the Committee, and using Junts "as an excuse" not to approve the initiative. She also referred to the Government’s approval of the Foreigners’ Regulations reform on November 19 last year, which she described as "pure window dressing."
"The question this afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, is simple. Who will the Socialist Party, Junts, and the PNV stand with? With the social majority, with the people who want the administrative regularization of these individuals, or with the racists of the Popular Party and Vox? That is the question that needs to be answered," Belarra questioned.
After the MP’s question, the Hemicycle reacted against her words. "I called them racists because they are racists, because they implement racist policies. Therefore, that’s what they are. It’s not an insult, it’s a description," she added.
She also emphasized that the extraordinary regularization of migrants in irregular administrative situations is a "matter of pure justice." However, she pointed out that this does not solve the "set of problems" in migration policy. To address this, she called for the creation of "legal and safe pathways" for legal migration.
PSOE Appeals to "Consensus"
In the spokespersons’ turn, Socialist Vicente Montávez defended migration that is "regulated, safe, and respectful" of human rights, ensuring "inclusion, coexistence, and the strengthening" of society. In this regard, he called for seeking "maximum consensus" in the processing of the ILP as a law. "It is necessary to seek the greatest possible consensus to provide stability and dignity to those enriching our society," he argued.
Montávez also explained that the arrival of migrants must be accompanied by a "real commitment." "Accepting their presence is not enough. Rights and opportunities must be guaranteed, which will also entail obligations," he emphasized.
On the other hand, PP spokesperson Sofía Acedo, who opposed Podemos’ initiative, accused Belarra of "covering up" alleged sexual offenders. "You are the only xenophobe, racist, sectarian, and sexist in the book. You are the one who also covers up alleged sexual offenders because they are your messianic leaders," she stated.
Acedo also criticized the PSOE for creating "false expectations" among migrant populations with a "free-for-all regularization." She explained that within the framework of the European Union, there are no mass regularization processes. "Everything is based on individualized procedures with strict compliance with requirements," she added.
Sumar spokesperson Vicenç Vidal urged the PSOE to reach agreements on this issue. "Agreements that do not betray the will of the people, of those who have made it," he pointed out.
Vox member Rocío de Meer, who advocated for "re-emigration," stated that Podemos wants to perpetuate open borders "that end the lives of Spaniards and Europeans." "The streets of Spain and Europe are saying enough. But for you, it seems that it is still not enough," she lamented.
EH Bildu representative Marije Fullaondo called on parliamentary groups to be "brave" and support the initiative. She also regretted that while the ILP is dormant, the Foreigners’ Regulations reform will come into effect in May and "negatively affect the regularization of different migrant groups who will not be able to access regularization through ordinary channels."
ERC member Jordi Salvador criticized the Government for letting the ILP die in the previous legislature and also criticized the new Foreigners’ Regulations, which "continue to exclude thousands of people." "The Government prefers to have hundreds of thousands of people without papers, exploited, and vulnerable," he affirmed.
Junts spokesperson Josep Maria Cervera reiterated the call for the transfer of migration competencies to Catalonia. "The migration policy that Junts wants is the one that must allow us to respond in a timely manner to the complexity of the phenomenon and the demographic challenge of today and the future," he assured.
Finally, PNV representative Mikel Legarda recalled that his party supported the consideration of the ILP in Congress. He indicated that they share the same idea as before when they stated that regularization should be done "case by case."
Six Months to Approve Instructions
According to the initiative agreed upon by the Government’s partners, to which Europa Press had access, they urged the Government to approve, within six months, through a Royal Decree or Council of Ministers Agreement, a procedure and instructions to apply for a legal residence authorization for exceptional circumstances, after which it would be possible to switch to other residence authorizations provided for in the general foreigner regulations.
Additionally, they requested to ensure that applicants for international protection could access such exceptional residence authorization "without the obligation to withdraw their asylum application in accordance with the recommendations of the Ombudsman on the matter."
