The recent parliamentary session in Catalonia became a stage for heated debate as Vox MP Alberto Tarradas defended controversial chants that emerged during a football match between Spain and Egypt on March 31. The PSC (Catalan Socialist Party) introduced a motion condemning the Islamophobic and xenophobic slogans, among which was the chant 'musulmán el que no bote' (Muslim who doesn’t jump). During the discussions, Tarradas provocatively questioned, 'What is wrong with this phrase that originates from the spontaneity and joy of the people?' He further elaborated that while he refrained from jumping to maintain decorum, he asserted that all members of his party would indeed jump.
This contentious statement triggered a strong reaction from other parliamentarians, especially when Tarradas directed his comments towards Najat Driouech, an Esquerra Republicana MP of Moroccan descent. He stated, 'If she decides not to jump upon hearing it, that’s fine; we’re not going to deport her for that, at least not for now.' Such remarks prompted ERC's representatives to alert the parliamentary leadership that 'all limits were being crossed.' The second vice president of the Parliament, David Pérez of the PSC, reminded Tarradas of Article 7 of the code of conduct, which calls for respect among deputies and prohibits discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, beliefs, ideology, origin, or any other condition.
Following this admonition, Tarradas assured that 'the lady deputy can be at ease' and that 'no one will say anything to her.' Notably, Driouech was not present during this exchange. Throughout his speech, Tarradas persisted in his defense of the chant, arguing that it is 'normal for sympathies to wane among the locals' towards Muslims, as they feel besieged by what he termed 'Islamic invasion,' which he blamed for the degradation of neighborhoods and increased crime rates. He concluded with a vehement proclamation of 'a thousand times yes, Spain is Christian and will never be Muslim.'
In the aftermath of these statements, Parliament President Josep Rull denounced such 'offensive generalizations' and expressed hope that no one would have to migrate from Spain and face similar derogatory rhetoric in their new homes. ERC's deputy spokesperson, Ana Balsera, condemned the direct attack on her colleague, pointing out that this was not the first instance of such behavior and that Tarradas had not retracted his statements. Rull announced that the matter would be addressed in a meeting of the parliamentary board and potentially forwarded to the Commission of the Statute of the Deputy for review regarding conduct code violations.
Later in the session, Tarradas sought to rectify his earlier remarks and offered an apology, stating, 'I have made light of a situation involving a deputy, and I believe personalizing it was a mistake. If my statement has offended or breached the decorum of this chamber, I wish to apologize.' In response, Rull asked if this meant he would retract the threats made, to which Tarradas agreed.
Subsequently, Driouech called for reflection, emphasizing that the purpose of their discussions should be to exchange ideas and policies rather than personal attacks against colleagues. President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, joined in condemning the incident via a message on social media, labeling it as an 'indecent example of Vox's hate speech,' asserting that no individual would be expelled from the country and reaffirming the commitment to coexistence, dignity, and equal rights without fear.
Furthermore, Oriol Junqueras, leader of Esquerra Republicana, directly addressed Tarradas, stating, 'People like you were judged at Nuremberg. Threats from the racist far-right will neither silence us nor make us retreat.' He reaffirmed that 'Catalonia is a land of rights, freedoms, and coexistence,' asserting that the appropriate response to those who propagate hate and fear is 'democracy, firmness, and dignity.'
As reported by lavanguardia.com.
