Spain’s Parliament backs citizenship for Western Saharans born before 1977

Milhares protestam na Espanha enquanto a crise migratória de Ceuta se agita há um mês.

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Os aliados do governo do Marrocos se atacam antes do início da campanha eleitoral.

Spain’s lower house of Parliament on Thursday approved the legislation 168-31, with 145 abstentions.

The bill still requires Senate approval before becoming law.

O texto concede nacionalidade espanhola aos Sahrawis nascidos antes de 29 de setembro de 1977 e aos seus filhos por naturalização, mesmo que nunca tenham residido na Espanha.

Although the exact number of beneficiaries is unknown, Sahrawi groups estimate that between 70,000 and 120,000 people could benefit from the legislation, which supporters described as addressing a “historical injustice” by colonial Spain in the Western Sahara.

A votação ocorre em um momento particularmente sensível para as historicamente delicadas relações de Madrid com Rabat, devido à crise migratória no território norte‑africano espanhol de Ceuta, e à chegada em massa de pelo menos 70.

Spain’s leftist government has avoided blaming Morocco – which does not recognise Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Spain’s other North African territory of Melilla – but the right accuses Rabat of orchestrating the surge for political motives.

Marrocos reivindica soberania sobre o Saara Ocidental e começou a afirmar controle sobre o território após o fim do domínio espanhol.

The Algerian-backed Polisario Front independence movement seeks recognition ⁠of an independent state called the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Many Sahrawis live in refugee camps in Tindouf in western Algeria, or elsewhere abroad, while others remain in Western Sahara.

Diante desse cenário, a iniciativa de conceder nacionalidade espanhola aos Sahrawis dividiu a opinião no Marrocos, mas não provocou condenação do governo.

Moroccan media quoted Ramadan Messaoud, a member of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, as saying in July that Rabat had “no problem” with Sahrawis obtaining Spanish citizenship.

Others had done so “over the past few years”, noted Messaoud, who is also president of the Sahrawi Association for Human Rights.

Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975, when Spain relinquished its administration under agreements with Morocco and Mauritania.

O Partido Socialista governante da Espanha e seu parceiro de esquerda mais jovem, Sumar, que apresentou a iniciativa, foram entre aqueles que apoiaram o projeto de lei, enquanto o Partido Popular conservador da oposição se absteve e o Vox de extrema-direita votou contra ele.

The bill will now go to the Senate, where amendments are expected, before returning to the lower house for final approval.

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