Reform of electronic voting in a complex political context
This Thursday, Parliament gave the green light definitively to a reform that will allow electronic voting, as well as the extension of the conditions for the delegation of the vote. This initiative has come at a time of political tensions marked by the investiture talks. The modification of the regulation, which facilitates voting from exile, is key for figures such as Carles Puigdemont, and has obtained support from several groups, including the PSC, Junts, ERC, Comuns and the CUP, with a total of 106 votes in favor, 26 against and 2 abstentions.
Political reactions to the reform
Representatives of parties such as the PP and Vox have expressed their disagreement, announcing their intention to take the reform to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the main objective is to politically benefit fugitives such as Puigdemont and Lluís Puig. On the other hand, the deputy of the PSC, Ferran Pedret, has defended the constitutionality of these measures, pointing out that they are common practices in other legislatures. Junts deputy, Jeannine Abella, has reinforced this defense, stating that the detractors of the reform do not believe in the parliamentary institution or in the rights of the elected.
New stage for the CUP and the return of Wagensberg
In addition to electronic voting, the reform also includes changes in the affiliation of parliamentary groups, allowing the CUP, which had lost its strength after the 12-M elections, to recover its own group. The majority required to approve institutional declarations is also modified, facilitating approval in the face of the veto of far-right forces. This Thursday’s plenary was marked by the return of the Republican deputy, Ruben Wagensberg, who had been in exile in Geneva for more than half a year. His colleague, Marta Rovira, celebrated his return and stressed the need to ensure that all deputies can exercise their rights in Catalonia.