Security law reform fails

a proposed reform of a contested security law in spain has failed after catalan and Basque parties voted against it in a parliamentary commission, arguing it did not go far enough.dubbed the “Gag Law” by those who oppose it, the legislation passed in 2015 by a previous conservative government allows authorities to impose hefty fines against unauthorised demonstrations or in case of attempts to block home evictions. the law was seen as an attempt by the government to curb social unrest and protests against its austerity measures.critics, including amnesty international and other rights groups, argue it limits free expression and violates the right to protest.

a reform of the law put forward by socialist Prime Minister Pedro sanchez’s minority coalition government proposed several changes, including lowering some fines and slashing the time suspects arrested at protests may be held in custody.

But catalan separatist party erc and Basque pro-independence party Bildu - which usually help the government pass legislation -opposed the reform because the