A political falling-out was brewing on Feb. 9 after Socialist leader José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero denied regional socialists in northeastern Aragón from presenting a constitutional appeal of the immigration law before Spain’s Constitutional Tribunal.
But Zapatero warned that his party’s exploitation of the immigrant community for political gain would be morally wrong and promised he would change the law if elected prime minister.
Elections are far off, though, after a landslide victory last March by twice-elected Prime Minister José María Aznar of the conservative Popular Party.
The regional New Castile Socialist Party also was exploring the possibility of appealing the law, which can be applied immediately to deport some 60,000 illegal immigrants living in Spain.
The enactment of the law, sponsored by the ruling Popular Party, incited countrywide mass protests and hunger strikes by illegal immigrants last month.
Hundreds of protestors continue to occupy churches in Barcelona and Madrid.
Zapatero emphasized that if the government does not reach a reasonable agreement with immigrant advocates by the next elections, which are due in three to four years, Aznar’s administration will be considered a failure.
The socialist leader said he will rely on a “social majority” to change the law.
“I want to change the immigration law with the vote of the people,” Zapatero exclaimed during a meeting with Aragón socialists. “Not in the courts.”
Aragón’s regional government, ruled by the Socialists, sought to appeal the immigration law before Spain’s Constitutional Tribunal on Friday.
But sparring political factions within the Socialist Party fell into line with Zapatero by Sunday when the secretary general of the Aragón socialists, Víctor Morlán, retracted plans to make an appeal before the federal court.
“We’ll convince the people and the government that their exists better methods to fight this law,” said Morlán. “The law is appalling.”
Frank Griffiths may be reached at fgriffiths@suite101.com
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