The European Commission “is aware” of the information on the government pact signed yesterday between the Popular Party and Vox in the town hall of Nàquera (Valencia), which provides, among other agreements, to replace the concentrations of ‘No to sexist violence’ by ‘No to violence’ or ‘We condemn all violence'”, the terminology preferred by Santiago Abascal’s party, as well as, in the section on “promotion of constitutional values”, they agree “not to place LGTBI flags on balconies and facades of municipal facilities”. This was confirmed today, to questions from the European press, the institution’s spokesperson, Dana Spinant, who recalled her “clear position” on the rights of this community.
“We do not comment on announcements and as it is a local administration first in any case we would refer to the authorities of the member state in question,” said Justice and Equality spokesman Christian Wigand, asked about the possible consequences of these measures. At the moment, “there have been no specific contacts” on this issue with the Spanish authorities but, Wigand added, “in general terms, the European Commission has a very clear position on the equal rights of the LGTBI community, and the protection of girls and women against violence and we have always made it clear that peaceful demonstrations are a fundamental right in all democratic countries”.
The decisions adopted in Nàquera (6,200 inhabitants) are reminiscent of the measures adopted two years ago in several Polish towns to create ‘gay-free zones’, which led the European Commission to freeze the delivery of certain community aid due to the risk that these measures (which prohibited any expression that could be interpreted as “promoting homosexuality”) violated European regulations on non-discrimination (finally, the Polish justice system declared them illegal), have taken the Nàquera agreements to various European media outlets.
Brussels has not only acted against Poland for policies considered contrary to European fundamental rights. The European Commission has also taken action against Hungary for discriminating against homosexuals and last year took Budapest to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the law that limits the dissemination of content related to sexual orientation or sex change among minors. . In the case of the Valencian town, the pact for the investiture of Iván Expósito, disseminated by Vox, includes what at the moment are political commitments reached with the PP.
