Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Spanish right-wing party VOX, has called on the Congress of Deputies to activate Article 102 of the Spanish Constitution against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

 

Abascal calls for the application of Article 102: treason against Spain

Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Spanish right-wing party VOX, has called on the Congress of Deputies to activate Article 102 of the Spanish Constitution against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Abascal is seeking to have Sánchez tried for treason and offenses against state security, specifically accusing the government of complacency and a "lackey attitude" toward Morocco following a migration crisis involving Ceuta.

The Context of the Accusation

The initiative, heavily championed by VOX leaders like Abascal and Jorge Buxadé, stems from accusations that the Spanish government failed to act despite having prior knowledge of migration movements toward the autonomous city of Ceuta. Alongside invoking Article 102, VOX has demanded:

• The immediate suspension of the friendship treaty between Spain and Morocco.
• The freezing of the European Union's preferential trade agreement with Morocco.
• Legal actions against NGOs and public officials they consider "accomplices" in the influx of migrants.

What is Article 102 of the Spanish Constitution?

Article 102 establishes the mechanism for holding the Prime Minister and other members of the government criminally responsible.

• The Jurisdiction: It stipulates that any criminal charges against the President or ministers must be brought before the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo).
• The Requirement: If the charge involves treason or an offense against the security of the State committed in the exercise of official duties, the initiative cannot be brought forward by a single party. It requires the explicit approval of an absolute majority of the Congress of Deputies.

Because Pedro Sánchez's coalition government and its legislative partners hold the majority of seats in Congress, Abascal's petition serves primarily as a high-profile political and rhetorical maneuver, as it lacks the parliamentary votes required to successfully force a treason trial.