The sentence in the so-called Manada (wolf pack) case in Spain has given rise to outrage in the European Parliament. An extraordinary debate was held this Wednesday on "Spain's application of international standards on the definition of sexual violence in light of the recent 'La Manada' case", at the request of Spanish party Podemos.
A number of MEPs criticised the manada sentence and Spain for not having implemented the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, article 36 of which specifically discusses "sexual violence, including rape". They also called for judges to have more training on sexual violence.
PSOE deputy Iratxe Garcia said that Spain is ignoring the convention and that it has cut 120 million euros (£106 million, $144 million) from the money set aside in the budget for the issue. Cs MEP Beatriz Becerra called for the EU to harmonise the categorisation of crimes against sexual liberty.
From Podemos, Tania González, who called for the extraordinary debate at the start of the session also said that the European Council agreement on the Istanbul Convention should be applied, meaning more funding against sexist violence.
Also to speak in the plenary session were Catalan MEPs Ernest Urtasun (Comuns) and Jordi Solé (ERC), who both denounced the sentence. The first called for the Penal Code to be changed and stated that sex without consent is violation, with no grey area. Solé, on the other hand, said the problem isn't the law, but its interpretation, and argued that sentences can be criticised.
The case went to debate following votes in favour from 188 MEPs. 135 voted against discussing the issue, 20 abstained. The proposed debate was opposed by Spain's PP party, which rejected the principle of questioning a legal sentence. Nonetheless, once the debate went ahead, one of the party's MEPs, Rosa Estaràs, described the law as "archaic" and called for "serene" reflection to change it. She also, however, criticised those who would use a debate in the Parliament for partisan ends, instead of having "lofty perspectives".
Other parties from the right and far-right, including France's Front Nacional, declined to comment on the sentence, but did show concern over the case not being classified as rape.
Věra Jourová, the European Commissioner for Justice and Gender Equality, said that Europe hopes that the appeal against the sentence, which has to go to the Supreme Court, is "fast and fair", and expressed hope that the victim should recover "physically and emotionally as quickly as possible".
The hashtag #YoSiTeCreo (I believe you), which became popular on social media to express support for the victim, was visible on signs held by a number of MEPs.
The second chamber of the Navarre Audience court last Thursday sentenced the five accused in the manada case to nine years in prison each for the crime of sexual abuse, acquitting them of rape. One of the judges gave a dissenting vote calling for full acquittal.