Spanish politicians face sanctions for misconduct and electoral offenses

In Spain, two separate political incidents involving misconduct have reached legal or parliamentary conclusions.

Ana Belén Vázquez, a PP deputy, avoided formal sanctions after bringing pepper spray into the Congress of Deputies. Although the Permanent Deputation of the Congress labeled her behavior a “reproachable” and “grave infraction,” the dissolution of the Cortes due to an early election prevented the plenary session required to approve a one-week suspension of her duties.

Separately, Ana Belén Mazarro, a PSOE councilwoman in Puertollano, has accepted a fine following a plea agreement with the Prosecutor's Office. Mazarro was accused of committing an electoral crime by posting the hashtag “#votaPSOE” on her personal Facebook profile on the day of the July 23, 2023, general elections. She agreed to a six-month fine at a rate of six euros per day, describing the incident as a “careless mistake” that she did not intend to use to interfere with the electoral process.

Additionally, the PSOE municipal group in Zaragoza has introduced a motion to defend the current electoral system and the integrity of postal voting against proposed reforms.