The Full Congress has approved this Thursday an institutional declaration to pay tribute to the contribution of the gypsy people to Spain and reaffirm the commitment of the parliamentarians to eradicate discrimination. The text has finally been approved by the Lower House with the support of all groups, including Vox, which raised objections to the text promoted by Sumar for considering it «sectarian.»
The institutional declaration, read by the first secretary of the Congress Mesa, Gerardo Pisarello, from En Comú, recalls that this year marks the sixth centenary of the arrival of the gypsy people to the Iberian Peninsula and calls for recognition of «the cultural, social, and linguistic contributions with which they have contributed to the diversity of Spain.»
«The deputies of this Chamber express a firm message of commitment to the contribution that the gypsy people have made to Spain and appeal to all sectors of society to work together from public institutions to civil society organizations for this recognition,» the text states.
In this sense, the Congress «reaffirms its commitment to the recognition and dignification of the gypsy people, to the eradication of discrimination, and to the construction of a society in which all people have the same dignity and respect.»
CONGRESS APPROVES DEPLOYING MEASURES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GYPSY PEOPLE
On the other hand, the Lower House has approved this Thursday a non-legislative proposal (PNL) from the socialists to deploy measures aimed at ensuring an «equitable and just» future for the gypsy people. Specifically, this has received 312 votes in favor and 33 abstentions (Vox).
In defense of the initiative, socialist Inés Plaza urged in the debate of the same, which took place on Tuesday, the parliamentary groups to «break» the «silence» in the face of the «invisibility,» «exclusion,» and «structural inequality» of the gypsy people.
«These are 600 years of culture, language, flamenco, art, dignity, struggle, resilience, pride. But they are also 600 years of discrimination, unjust laws, persecution, segregation, stigmas that have not yet been broken, institutional silence,» she said.
She also criticized the Andalusian government of Juan Manuel Moreno, which «is the only thing» it does in the face of the «inequalities» affecting the gypsy people is to award them a medal. «And I wonder, what good are medals when the gypsy people are abandoned in shantytowns, when segregation is made invisible, or when the entire community continues to be stigmatized?» she asked.
In the spokespersons’ turn, the PP deputy Tristana María Moraleja pointed out that the socialist initiative is «excessively generic, full of ambiguities.» She also criticized that it does not address «important and specific issues» that are on the agenda of organizations representing the gypsy people.
«This PNL is an absolutely insufficient gesture on the part of the Parliamentary Group representing the Government. Without any real commitment to improve the lives of gypsy families. You are wasting a historic moment like the 600th anniversary of the arrival of the gypsy people to the Iberian Peninsula. You have only taken advantage of it to take a picture. Pure Sanchismo,» she emphasized.
Alda Recas, from Sumar, stressed that «the racism and inequality suffered by the gypsy people remains unacceptable.» She also added that policies should aim at recognizing the «historical, cultural, social, and linguistic contributions of the gypsy people and, above all, repairing them.» In this sense, she referred to the streets in Spain with the name Marqués de la Ensenada. «Would anyone today think of putting the name Netanyahu, for example, on a street?» she questioned.
VOX ACCUSES THE GOVERNMENT OF BEING MORE INTERESTED IN MIGRANTS
Meanwhile, María de los Reyes Romero, from Vox, emphasized that the party led by Santiago Abascal respects the gypsy people «very much,» but does not share «this Government’s penchant for revising history to find generic grievances in order to throw them in the face of others.» «Nor do we agree with the idea that you have that the gypsy people in 21st-century Spain are a homogeneous and vulnerable group that has traumas from the past because they come from a situation of inferiority,» she said, adding that the Government is only interested in «those who come from outside and if they enter Spain illegally, then all the better.»
For Podemos, Martina Velarde stated that recognizing the gypsy people cannot be reduced to a «mere symbolic act or symbolic ritual» and called for «seriously looking at the history of institutionalized marginalization and violence, persistent stigmatization, and normalized exclusion by the State.» She also called on the Government to comply with the State Pact against anti-gypsyism.
From EH Bildu, Mertxe Aizpurua demanded a shift from «symbolic recognition and general inclusion measures» to «recognition for the preservation and development of the gypsy people’s identity.» In the party’s view, the socialist initiative is based on «statements of good intentions.» She also denounced that the Marqués de la Ensenada, who led the 1749 plan to persecute, imprison, and exterminate the gypsy population, is still portrayed in a gallery of honor in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Francesc-Marc Álvaro Vidal, from ERC, warned of the «danger» that the socialist initiative remains «a symbolic issue.» «And I must warn you, PSOE members, that you sometimes fall into this error when it comes to memory. You sometimes make toasts to the sun, grand statements that do not materialize,» he said.
From the PNV, Joseba Andoni Agirretxea highlighted in his intervention that «the gypsy people continue to be judged and marginalized.» In this sense, although he expressed his support for the socialist initiative, he indicated that he could discuss it at length with the PSOE.
Finally, Pilar Calvo, from Junts, pointed out that Catalonia celebrated the six centuries of the arrival of the gypsy people ten years ago. Likewise, she agreed that there should be initiatives to recognize the gypsy people and to remember the «injustice» they have suffered over the centuries. She also criticized King Felipe VI for not asking for «forgiveness» from this community at the institutional event held on Tuesday in Congress. «A new example of monarchical hypocrisy,» she added.
FUENTE