Spanish party fails to pass motion condemning Morocco

The Spanish Popular Party (PP) failed in its move to have the Senate vote for a motion condemning Morocco regarding Spanish prisoners serving sentences in the North African country.

The ballot tied three times with 123 votes for (those of PP senators) and 123 against (socialist, communist and other parties), which according to the House regulations means the motion is thrown out.

The opposition right wing party has been asking the Spanish government to work for the repatriation of some sixty Spanish people serving prison terms in Morocco. Other political parties, including the Socialist Party, have argued that the prisoner repatriation issue should not focus on Morocco alone.

Socialist Senator Jose Castro said on the issue Morocco should not be made "an exceptional case," but the government should be asked to work for the repatriation of the more than one thousand Spanish prisoners held throughout the world.