The Mar Menor will be the first natural space in Europe with recognized legal rights which will reinforce its conservation, maintenance and restoration, in addition to its protection and governability, independent of public interests. The Congress of Deputies has approved this Tuesday a Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP), endorsed by more than 600,000 citizen signatures, with a majority of the Chamber, except for Vox, to give the Mar Menor legal personality, that is, as a subject of law, for which any government that violated any provision would be guilty of a crime and sentenced to pay a fine.
Likewise, this initiative recognizes the inherent, fundamental and inalienable right from this unique ecosystem to “exist, flourish and evolve naturally & rdquor ;.
During the debate on the consideration of this ILP, all the parties in the parliamentary arc, except for Vox, have shown their support for this proposal, with the aim of joining forces and consensus to save this unique ecosystem.
In his speech, the socialist deputy Juan Luis Soto Burillo pointed out the honor that it has meant for him to defend the turn in favor of this ILP, backed by almost 640,000 signatures collected in times of pandemic, based on a firm commitment to the environment, sustainability and especially with the Region of Murcia.
For Burillo it is a “novel” text that describes the unfortunate state of the Mar Menor and has advocated working hard during the parliamentary process to pass a good law as a result of dialogue, consensus and social participation, at a time he has described as turning point in the life of Laguna.
Strong political controversy
Soto Burillo recalled that, given the inaction of the Regional Government of Murcia, the Government of Spain has launched a roadmap that addresses specific actions based on four keys: listening to science, respecting the law, cooperation between administrations and social participationbecause, “now we have a great opportunity & rdquor ;.
Likewise, during his speech and in the reply to Vox, Burillo has defined that group as the “real threat to the Mar Menor and the Region of Murcia & rdquor ;, given the rejection shown to the initiative.
Luis Gestoso de Miguel from Grupo Vox, and defender of the turn against, has stated that this ILP means “more waste and more legislation, with the sole intention of creating a new beach bar& rdquor ;, and has criticized the nonsense that in his opinion means giving legal personality to this loophole supported by the “shameful submission of the Popular Party & rdquor ;.
“They give rights to the Mar Menor, fish, plants and crustaceans”, Gestoso has argued, to point out that next time “they will vote for any animal species”.
Juan Ignacio Lopez Bas Valero, from Ciudadanos, has lamented the “unfortunate spectacle & rdquor; that sometimes occurs in Congress, and has apologized to those present in the Chamber, before emphasizing that the Mar Menor “is dying & rdquor ;.
López asked Vox to support the initiative and “stop betting on what is broken and help build so that this ILP becomes a reality.”
An “agony death”
The Plural group has also positioned itself in this sense, and thus Inés Sabanés, deputy of Más País-Verdes Equo, thanked the promoter group of this ILP for their work, because it is very difficult for them to reach Congress, to label as “ecocide & rdquor; what has happened in the Mar Menor.
In this “absolute emergency” Sabanés has requested investments for its restoration and the deployment of tools to save the lagoon from a tragedy that could have been avoided, because his “agonizing death & rdquor; It is not a coincidence, it is the result of decades..
The deputy of the confederal group of United We Can, Javier Sánchez has highlighted that it is “a historic day for the Region of Murcia and its people&rdquor ;, before thanking the hundreds of people who have channeled this initiative.
He has described the Vox deputy, Gestoso, as “simply and simply the butler of the Cartagena landowners who have killed the Mar Menor & rdquor ;, and has thanked Murcian society for its organization to defend this ILP, because, in his opinion, the regional government has no will to do so.
“Behind this ILP there is a region that has risen up, it is the people who ask for helplisten and support this initiative & rdquor ;, Sánchez has influenced.
For his part, the deputy of the Popular group Juan Luis Pedreño He has asked for “consensus, all the support adds up & rdquor ;, and has indicated that the PP is not going to use the Mar Menor as a vehicle to wear down others: “We are facing a problem of all”.
After the yes of the Congress, the initiative will return to the Commission for the Ecological Transition for the presentation of amendments to the legal text, before its parliamentary debate.