80,000 Sahrawis await Spanish citizenship vote
Up to 80,000 Sahrawis could gain Spanish citizenship when Congress votes in Madrid on Thursday, but the conservative People's Party is signalling an abstention. Parliamentary spokesperson Ester Muñoz said the PP backs citizenship for those affected, but not through the route chosen by the government. The proposal covers Sahrawis born while Western Sahara was under Spanish administration.
The PP already abstained when the measure was considered in committee. It is keeping eight amendments for the full Congress debate, including changes to the rules on granting citizenship, the procedure and the Civil Code.
Muñoz said the party doubts whether the proposed safeguards are sufficient. The PP wants applicants to gain citizenship through residence instead of the carta de naturaleza, a discretionary citizenship grant.
She described citizenship for the group as a debt owed to the Sahrawi people. But Muñoz said the party would not confirm its final vote until after Thursday's debate.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com