Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981

This article is about The Galicia Statute of Autonomy of 1981. For Statute of Autonomy of 1936, see Galician Statute of Autonomy (1936).
Galician Statute of Autonomy
Created 1978
Ratified 6 April 1981
Signatories Juan Carlos I, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo
Galicia
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The Galician Statute of Autonomy (Galician: Estatuto de Autonomía de Galicia) of 1981 is the current basic institutional norm of Galicia. The Galician Government, Parliament and High Court of Galicia are regulated by it.

Genesis of the 1981 Statute

The Statute passed in 1981 has its precedent in the Statute that had been drafted and voted in 1936. This earlier Statute could not be implemented due to the Francoist revolt and the Spanish Civil War, which started in 1936. Hence, with the end of the Francoist dictatorship in 1977, a process of devolution began in the Spanish State. This political and administrative process took form in the passing of the Statutes of Autonomy, regulated by the Spanish Constitution of 1978.

On 16 March 1979, Galicia attained the rank of "pre-autonomous community", and in June 1979 Galician members to the Spanish Parliament submitted a draft for a Statute of Autonomy. Once the Constitutional Committee and the Spanish Parliamentary Assembly altered this first draft, it was finally ratified by the Galician people in a referendum held in December 1980. It came into effect on 6 April 1981 after being signed by King Juan Carlos I of Spain and by Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo, President of the Spanish government, in the Spanish Royal Palace. Galicia then became an autonomous community.

However, this new Statute soon came under intense criticism as it was considered not sufficiently ambitious. The 1981 Statute was not initially supported by Galician nationalist parties since they considered it "limited" compared to the 1936 one.[1] For example, the 1936 statute endorsed Galicia with control over the economy and taxes, and also with the unique power to nationalize, rights not contemplated in 1981, among others. Nevertheless, the 1981 statute formed the cornerstone of future Galician political evolution, despite it being an end in itself for some and a point of departure for others.

Powers endorsed by the Statute

The Galician Statute of Autonomy (1981) recognises Galicia as a historical nationality, a cultural and geographical unit entitled to self-government in democracy.

The Statute recognises Galicia the following specific powers, abilities and competencies (among others):

Some of these rights and powers have not been exercised, or not fully. Some other have. Still, the Galician government is entitled to request the transfer of further competencies to the Spanish Parliament by means of an organic law. In this fashion, Galicia gains further powers slowly but gradually. Still, certain issues are reserved for the Spanish government only as specified by the Spanish Constitution (1978). These include the military and international relations. Likewise, the right for self-determination (claimed by nationalist groups) is not recognised either.

Reform of the Statute

With the establishment of the new Galician government following the elections of 2005, debates were initiated in the Parliament on a possible reform of the Statute. Indeed, reform of the Statute and further devolution had been on the agenda of the new parties in government: the Galician Socialist Party and, namely, the Galician Nationalist Bloc. A consensus was sought with the third party in the chamber, the PPdeG.

Yet, it was mentioned that the new Statute should recognise Galicia not just as an historical nationality, but as a nation. This issue was frontally rejected by the PPdeG and therefore conversations were put on hold. Although there is a still a parliamentary commission working on the development of a draft for a new Statute,[3] it is expected that political discussions on the question of "nationality" will not be resolved easily.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Hooper (1986)
  2. ↑ Galician public expenditure is controlled by the Consello de Contas (in Galician and Spanish)
  3. ↑ Parliamentary site on the Statute form. Access date 26 Sept. 2008
  4. ↑ Article, commenting on the political struggles discussing the new Statute, from the newspaper Galicia Hoxe. Access date 26 Sept. 2008

References

External links

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