Spanish Congress to sanction deputy over pepper spray incident

Spanish Congress pepper spray incident Ana Vázquez parliamentary discipline PP deputy

The Spanish Congress is set to open disciplinary proceedings against PP deputy Ana Belén Vázquez following an incident where she displayed a pepper spray canister during a government control session. The deputy intended to use the object to highlight security issues in Ceuta, but the situation escalated when a worker from her parliamentary group reportedly emptied part of the spray in a restroom.

The resulting discharge caused several people to require medical attention for intoxication and led to the sealing of various areas within the Congress, including a cafeteria. The Mesa del Congreso, which holds a majority of PSOE and Sumar members, will meet next Tuesday to discuss the opening of a sanctioning procedure under Article 101 of the parliamentary regulations. Potential penalties range from a formal warning to a temporary suspension of her status as a deputy.

Political reactions have been sharp, with the PSOE and Sumar calling for her resignation or the surrender of her seat. While the PP spokesperson described the handling of the spray as an error, she maintained that the deputy's intent was to denounce the lack of security for women and children in Ceuta.

Entities

Ana Belén Vázquez · Ana Belén Vázquez Blanco · Ana Vázquez · Congreso de los Diputados · Fernando Grande-Marlaska · Francina Armengol · PP · PSOE · People's Party · Spanish Congress of Deputies

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The pepper spray caused one worker to take medical leave and led to approximately ten other people receiving treatment for intoxication. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.informacion.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es
[● 3 SOURCES] In 1934, Indalecio Prieto brandished a pistol during a session in the Spanish Congress. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.informacion.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es
[● 3 SOURCES] Ana Belén Vázquez claimed the pepper spray canister was empty. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.informacion.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es
[● 3 SOURCES] Ana Belén Vázquez wielded a pepper spray canister in the Spanish Congress. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.informacion.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es