Congress reforms its rules to curb far-right agitators

The signatory parties denounce the presence of individuals accredited by pseudo-media outlets who routinely spread lies and hoaxes on their channels, "seriously disrupting" the right to information with reprehensible behavior.

The disrespect reached an unprecedented level last week. Bertrand Ndongo, one of the activists who, in many cases, serve and have served in this very legislature as advisors to political parties, incurring in manifest incompatibility, boycotted the speech of Sumar spokesperson Verónica Barbero, amid serious threats.

The far-right agitator boycotted the press conference by attempting to hijack the question time without, as required by the regulations, having been granted it by the relevant press officers. Not content with that, he began shouting various threats and rants over the person actually speaking, making it impossible for the question time to be published on websites, television, and radio. These events led to a journalists' walkout, which was unanimously approved by nearly fifty media professionals from a wide range of media outlets.

Vox, which has issued invitations to other regional parliaments to some of the activists who later boycott other political parties, has already made clear its rejection of this regulatory reform. Meanwhile, the PP, which recently enlisted another of its members, Vito Quiles, for a political campaign on social media, remains uncertain as to whether it will ultimately vote in favor or oppose it, as its spokesperson, Miguel Tellado, is inclined to do.

The votes of the two right-wing parties, however, appear to be irrelevant, since the support of the PSOE and its partners guarantees that this reform of the regulations will be approved later in the final vote, for which an absolute majority of 176 votes is required.

The reform proposes that the Congressional Board regulate the procedure for granting and renewing media accreditations, taking into account criteria such as respect for the "right to truthful information and the proper functioning of the Chamber."

The text also proposes the creation of a Parliamentary Communication Advisory Council, made up of one member from each parliamentary group and groups from the information sector. It also proposes up to 17 types of violations for non-compliance.

Among the very serious offenses is the lack of respect or rules of courtesy toward other people inside Congress or in access areas, as well as the recording of images or audio using hidden devices in the offices of members of the House and in areas reserved for groups. This is also what some of the pseudo-media outlets did, infiltrating the office of former Second Vice President Pablo Iglesias during the previous term.

Minor violations may result in a warning and a credential suspension of up to ten business days. Serious violations may be suspended for up to three months.

And in the case of very serious violations, the credential may be suspended for between three months and five years, or even permanently revoked.