Spain's 'Gag Law' Opens The Mouths of Most Spaniards

Almost three quarters of the Spanish population does not favour Spain's "gag law" that takes people back to the nightmare of dictator Francisco Franco , according to thelocales.

This new public security law was enforced on July 1st, and was followed by a nationwide protest. People feel that it limits free speech and the right to demonstrate.

While the law was passed with the support of the ruling conservative Popular Party (PP), even among the PP's conservative supporters the law is disliked, with almost half (44 percent) slamming it. The new law curbs the right to peacefully protest with the introduction of fines ranging between €100 ($111) and €600,000.

"With the 'gag law' brought into force, the practice of journalism will be less free," the Madrid Press Association stated, according to rt.

In a survey conducted by Metroscopia and published in Spanish daily El País Monday, "the so-called gag-law has reached levels of opposition rarely seen in Spanish politics".

Even when Spain introduced its new public security law on July 1st, opponents furiously marched in 30 Spanish cities, with gags that symbolized the Ley Mordaza or Gag Law.

About 63 percent of Spaniards want the law to go, while a mere 21 percent agree that the law should remain.

Since December 2014, in Metroscopia's earlier survey, about 68 percent of Spaniards opposed the law, compared to the 75 percent in the new poll. It has been criticized by human rights groups, lawyers' associations and journalists.

The president of Spain's General Law Council, Carlos Carnicer, rued that the law had "kicked the country to the right".