Spain's Congress has approved the reform of Castilla-La Mancha's Statute of Autonomy with strong backing from PSOE and PP, driven by regional president Emiliano García-Page. The update to the 1982 law aims for maximum consensus and now moves to committee for further processing. Vox and other parties have rejected or conditioned their support.
In an unusual session of political truce, Congress has given the green light to the reform of Castilla-La Mancha's Statute of Autonomy, passed with 288 votes in favor, 34 against, and 13 abstentions. The proposal, agreed between PSOE and PP after over two years of negotiation, was championed by regional president Emiliano García-Page, who stressed its pursuit of consensus: “It may be one of the few examples of consensus between the two major parties. The fact that it is agreed between the Socialist Party and the Popular Party is not only a guarantee of majority, it is a message in itself”.
The reform raises the maximum number of deputies in the regional Parliament from 33 to 55, addressing population criteria after a cut of 20 seats during María Dolores de Cospedal's government (2011-2015), deemed undemocratic by the Council of Europe. It also protects public services, includes depopulation strategies, strengthens social rights and equality, limits privileges for deputies and the regional government, and introduces decree-law. It further provides for an own Tax Agency, like those in 12 of Spain's 17 autonomous communities.
Francisco Núñez, PP opposition leader, supported the text: “The 1982 text fulfilled its function, it opened the door to autonomy, but today it is outdated and obsolete” and clarified that “it is not confrontational” nor “against anyone”. García-Page added: “The Government of Castilla-La Mancha would never have brought this project with only the votes of the majority... we wanted the project to be consensual or not at all”.
Vox rejected the proposal, accusing it of seeking “embassies abroad like Catalan independentists” and more deputies for “yes-men”. Podemos abstained conditionally, proposing a single constituency for better representation, and warned it would vote against if no amendments are allowed. The regional Cortes approved the reform in May by absolute majority; now, after the total debate, it moves to committee before returning to the plenary.