Spain's new coalition government has decided to open a can of worms: Penal Code reform. Reform which, they say, they want to be broad. It will start with sexual consent, having agreed with their partners to guarantee that only yes means yes. Other aspects under the microscope include the charges of rebellion and sedition, controversial following the Catalan independence trial, which they are open to reviewing and adapting to today.
As it's not set out in the agreement under which the government took office, it's an open question whether they will be able to get the support of the Congress for whatever package of reforms they end up promoting. If they get consensus, government sources say they could toughen up the definition of rebellion, limiting it to armed coups, and reducing sedition.
In her press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting, new spokesminister María Jesús Montero, avoided getting into detail about any of their plans.
Torra and Sánchez
Asked about prime minister Sánchez's meeting with Catalan president Quim Torra, she noted that he plans to follow the traditional order to meet with the presidents of each of Spain's autonomous communities, thus starting with Basque president Iñigo Urkullu, with Torra to come second. This order, however, could change depending on how agendas work out. Although not finalised, the meeting in Barcelona is likely to be on 6th or 7th February.
Montero discussed the meeting as a "first contact in the framework of institutional normality", with no set agenda. "It's open so that both of them can speak calmly", she said, admitting that "the proposals we're bringing to this meeting are diametrically opposed."