Congress passes the reform of the Criminal Code

The PSOE, Unidas Podemos, ERC, PDECat, PNB and EH Bildu vote in favour of the reform, while Junts, the CUP and VOX vote against it, and PP and Ciudadanos do not participate in the vote. The reform removes sedition as an offence and introduces changes to the crime of public disturbance, broadening its scope and imposing harsher sentences in some cases. It also modifies the crime of embezzlement, distinguishing among three different levels: taking public assets for profit; temporarily using public assets without intent to take them, subsequently returning them; and finally, deviations from the budget or expenses that are not easily justified. The reform is passed by the Senate on 22 December and goes into effect on 12 January 2023.