Spanish government closes in on deal with Canary Islands to relocate migrant minors
The Spanish government is close to finalising a deal to relocate thousands of migrant minors who have arrived on the Canary Islands in recent years. Spanish media reports the total number could be as high as 4,400.
Fernando Clavijo, President of the Canary Islands, has agreed with Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, to finalise “within ten days” a new legislative text that guarantees the unaccompanied migrant minors will be relocated to different parts of mainland Spain.
Clavijo explained that the government has put “some nuance” into the law, which is why the Canary Islands government and Spanish government lawyers will have a period of ten days to study it and reach a consensus on a definitive text.
The relocation of migrant minors, many of whom are of Sub-Saharan origin, has been a politically contentious topic in Spain in the last year. Far-right Vox broke up several regional coalitions with the centre-right Partido Popular over the issue.
READ ALSO: Why a row is brewing over the care of migrant minors in Spain
Spain’s gender violence courts warn that they are on verge of collapse
Spanish courts focusing on gender violence cases have warned that they are going to collapse and that in a few months they will not be able to serve victims.
“We are not going to be able to. We’re not going to have the strength. We are not going to have the energy, and this is going to be transferred to the victim: we aren't going to be able to attend to them,” said Francisca Verdejo, dean of the gender violence courts in Barcelona.
This follows the entry into force of new law that extends the powers of these specialised courts without giving them more resources.
Spain condemns arrest of Venezuela opposition leader Machado
The Spanish government on Thursday expressed its "total condemnation" of the arrest of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado in Caracas during a protest against President Nicolás Maduro. Machado has since been freed.
"The physical integrity and freedom of expression and demonstration of all, especially that of opposition political leaders, must be protected and safeguarded," the foreign ministry added in a statement.
Thousands of protesters in Madrid, Barcelona and more than 30 cities in Spain took part in demonstrations for democracy in Venezuela on Thursday and in support of Venezuela's opposition candidate Edmundo González, on the eve of the Venezuela's presidential inauguration.
There are at least 400,000 Venezuelans residing in Spain, the vast majority of whom vehemently oppose Maduro's regime.
Brother of Spain's PM denies nepotism
David Sánchez appeared in court on Thursday, defending the legality of his position as director of Performing Arts of the Provincial Council of Badajoz. He denied that he got the job due to the fact that he's the brother of Spain's Prime Minister, and claimed instead that he came across the job offer online.
The complaint against against the PM's sibling was filed by Manos Limpias ("Clean Hands") in June, the same right-wing organisation that accused Pedro Sánchez's wife Begoña Gómez of corruption.
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