Catalonia's Parliament is set to introduce strict penalties for hate speech and misconduct. Lawmakers face fines up to €12,000 and public reprimands. The reform aims to address growing concerns over offensive language in political debate.
The Parliament of Catalonia is preparing to implement a sweeping reform of its internal regulations, introducing a new legal framework to penalise hate speech and misconduct among deputies. The initiative, backed by PSC, Junts, ERC, Comuns and CUP, is designed to address rising concerns over offensive or discriminatory language in parliamentary communications and to ensure that sanctions for such behaviour are firmly established in law.
The proposed law, consisting of nine articles, was formally presented this week following a recommendation from the Comissió de l’Estatut del Diputat. Under the new rules, deputies will be explicitly prohibited from using language deemed "offensive or defamatory" that discriminates, slanders, or incites hatred in any form of communication. The reform also clarifies procedures for reconsideration requests and calls to order, reinforcing the obligation for deputies to respect both the chamber's rules and its Code of Conduct.
Sanctions will be graded according to the severity of the infraction. Minor breaches, such as failing to uphold the principles and conduct rules of the Parliament, will result in a public reprimand. More serious violations, including providing incomplete information about compliance with obligations or accepting gifts valued between €150 and €600, will incur both a public reprimand and fines ranging from €600 to €6,000. The most severe infractions—such as intentionally providing misleading information, failing to abstain in cases of conflict of interest, accepting gifts over €600, or engaging in threats or acts of violence—will be punished with a public reprimand and fines between €6,001 and €12,000. In extreme cases, deputies may also be barred from representing the Parliament in delegations or interparliamentary forums for up to one year.
The reform comes after recent disciplinary actions, including the public reprimand issued by the Mesa del Parlament to Sílvia Orriols, leader of Aliança Catalana (AC), and Joan Garriga, parliamentary spokesperson for Vox. Both were sanctioned for minor breaches of Article 7 of the Code of Conduct, which requires deputies to maintain exemplary and respectful behaviour. The move reflects a broader trend in Catalonia to address issues of conduct and accountability in public institutions. In a related context, Catalan authorities have also faced scrutiny over their handling of sensitive cases, such as the compensation awarded to a child abuse victim in a Barcelona protection centre, as reported in this recent coverage.
The new disciplinary regime aims to provide clear consequences for misconduct and to adapt parliamentary standards to the expectations of contemporary society. The Comissió de l’Estatut del Diputat and the Mesa will play central roles in investigating and enforcing these rules. The reform is part of a wider effort across Spain to strengthen institutional integrity and public trust, particularly as political debate becomes increasingly polarised. While the focus is on Catalonia, similar measures have been discussed in other Spanish regions, reflecting a national conversation about the boundaries of acceptable conduct in public office. The changes are expected to take effect following parliamentary approval, marking a significant shift in how political accountability is enforced in Catalonia.
