The Congress takes the first step for the Basque pelota and surf teams to compete internationally

Euskaraz irakurri: Kongresuak lehen pausoa eman du pilotako eta surfeko euskal selekzioak nazioartean lehiatu ahal izateko

The plenary session of the Congress of Deputies has given the green light to the new sports law (the previous one was from 1990), by 166 votes in favour, 157 against and 18 abstentions, opening the door to the participation of Basque pelota or surf teams in official international competitions, as they are considered in Euskadi as modalities “with historical and social roots”. Now it will continue its treatment in the Senate.

Last week, the Culture and Sport Committee discussed and approved a transaction change agreed by the PNV and PSOE, recognizing for the first time the official status of Basque teams in some sports.

In the the rest of sports remains the obligation that the Basque federations join the Spanish to participate in international competitions. At the Olympics, there is also no option for the Basque teams, as only states recognized by the United Nations are recognized.

Without the consensus sought by the government Spanish, the text’s opinion passed this Thursday, with 166 votes in favour, 157 against and 18 abstentions for the transfer to the Senate, with minimal variations, no backgroundcompared to the proposal adopted in the Commission a week ago.

Recording the change days ago agreed by the socialist and Basque groups on the regional selections, the debate has monopolized the debate and determined the vote of the groups. deputy socialist John Louis Soto He championed “an innovative, groundbreaking law” that will follow the standard in effect since 1990.

The text “recognizes the right to practice sport, declares sport as an essential activity”, with “novelties in governance and transparency, a new model of sports justice, opens channels for fans and appreciates the sports industry, which employs more than 400,000 people and is well for 3% of GDP”.

Soto has assured that “it is the law of non-discrimination, of the protection of the LGTBI group, which gives a red card to racism, intolerance, the law of inclusion, of equality, which promotes the status of the athlete, the right to reconciliation and breastfeeding and equal prices for men and women in the selections”.

“This law does not violate Spain, as we have unfortunately been able to hear; on the contrary, sport becomes an instrument of social cohesion in our country,” he said.

Javier Merino (PP) has praised some of the law promoting women’s sports, protecting minors, shielding animal practices, greater transparency and codes of good governance, to “eliminate certain behaviors that are embarrassed every day,” but he regretted not being able to support it because the government has “broken parliamentary harmony”.

As he has said, the controversy over the withdrawal of amendments that angered LaLiga last week was “artificially created from La Moncloa”, to “cover” the issue of the regional teams: “The problem of the Basque teams was written from the first day, but the government was afraid of the media noise”.

“There was a great opportunity to abolish the third law of our democracy with a big deal, but Spanish sport is above you. Your Honor, your history, you have names and surnames that are above your concessions to the Basque nationalists,” he said. .

Position of the Basque groups

During the debate on the law, the deputy of the GDPJoseba Agirretxea has emphasized that the decree recognizing the official status of the Basque pelota and surf teams is “a first, fundamental and necessary step”, although he has warned that “it will not be the last”. “Until now it was nothing, now between everything and nothing, we have something,” he added. In addition, he has maintained that it is “unfortunate that a country has to force someone to compete”, referring to the necessity that will remain in effect in the rest of the modalities.

Despite the “noise” generated, the leader of Jeltzale felt that it is primarily a right of the athletes who have celebrated the change. However, with regard to the law as a whole, he deplored the “state interference” in sport, as the constitution grants exclusive powers to the autonomous communities. However, he was pleased that the text has been “improved and balanced” with the amendments adopted or compromised.

On behalf of EH Picture, his spokesman Mertxe Aizpurua has pointed out that they will not vote for the rule because despite the fact that “it is a step and it is good that one of the padlocks that should have been turned has fallen, it should not be be misled”. The abertzale deputy has argued that Euskal Herria is a nation and should be selectable, while reminding that athletes “are not minors” and that “it is not acceptable not to be able to choose which flag and which country to represent” .

As he has denounced, this law will continue to “punish those who do not want to compete with Spain”, for which he has assured that his group will continue to claim the Euskal Selekzioa “lortu artuntil you reach it.”

According to the PNV, Junts tried to “dynamize” the agreement

The vote led to a scuffle between the PNV and Junts per Catalunya. The spokeswoman for the Catalan group, bare pillarhas addressed the Jeltzalez to lament that he had “used the rules of the Spanish Chamber to veto the dream of Catalan independence”, rejecting Junts’ amendment to generalize the participation of national teams.

The PNV has replied that Junts has tried to “dynamize” the agreement between Jeltzales and socialists to accept some selections with “historic roots”.

“The Junts per Catalunya proposal that justifies the EAJ-PNV’s veto over its processing was drafted by altering and inflating the literal nature of that agreement, when that same issue will be put to a vote through an amendment of its own group (amendment 106 by Junts) and has the support of EAJ-PNV,” said the Basque Group.

“It’s even more serious jeopardizing a hard-fought deal to put a bill to the vote that has no chance of succeeding“, added.