Spain’s lower house of parliament has approved legislation that would grant Spanish citizenship to Sahrawis born before September 29, 1977, during the period when Spain administered the territory. The bill now moves to the Senate for final passage.
The vote, held on Thursday, saw 168 lawmakers in favor, 31 against, and 145 abstentions. The ruling Socialist Party and left-wing Sumar coalition backed the measure, while the conservative People’s Party chose to abstain. The far-right Vox party opposed the bill.
Tesh Sidi, the first woman of Sahrawi origin to serve in the Spanish parliament, advocated for the legislation. She stated that the bill restores “the Spanish national identity card to those Sahrawis who once held and from whom this state took it away.”
Interesting that the conservatives abstained instead of outright opposing it. Seems like a diplomatic pivot.
100,000 people gaining citizenship is huge. Does this apply to those who fled later?
Morocco is going to be furious. I wonder how this affects EU migration negotiations?
Finally, some historical justice for the Sahrawi people. This is a long-overdue step.