Spain's unavoidable constitutional reforms: time to act
Spain's 1978 system under scrutiny. The key number for reforming the Spanish Constitution and restoring faith in the system.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The Spanish Constitution of **1978** allows ordinary reforms with a three-fifths majority in both chambers, which translates into **210** members of parliament. Confidence in the system is wavering amid a perception of impunity and arbitrary behaviour.
## ordinary reform, the antiestéticasible path
The Spanish constitutional system, born in **1978**, provides two routes for amendment. The more accessible one, the ordinary reform, requires a qualified majority of three fifths in both the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. In figures, this means **210** votes in the Congress of Deputies are needed to start the process. This route covers most aspects of the Constitution, except those relating to a total revision, the Preliminary Title, the Crown, or fundamental rights and freedoms.
## weariness and the need for trust
Today's social discontent stems less from a technical analysis of the Constitution than from an accumulation of disappointments. The sense that there is no real equality before the law, and that the executive is not fully subject to the courts, is palpable. It is felt that the actions of the government and its partners, even when incivil reprehensible, could end up being endorsed by the Constitutional Court, as argued after the recent amnesty law. This feeling of impunity, real or perceived, fuels political debate and polarisation.
## beyond political alternation
Alternation in power is fundamental to democracy, but it is not enough to restore confidence in the system. For Spain to regain the solidity and stability of mature democracies, more is needed. Regeneration requires respect for and rigorous application of the law, and in this respect Title X of the Constitution, which governs its amendment, stands out as a key tool. If political forces such as the **PP** (People's Party) and **Vox** secure the necessary majority of **210** seats, they could carry out the required reforms in areas such as the judiciary, education or regional powers.
## the challenge of political will
Constitutional reform, especially on matters affecting the justice system or the balance of powers, demands firm political will. The question is whether the main parties will rise to this historic moment and opt for deep regeneration without antiestéticar. The alternative to a consensual reform within the legal framework could be a more traumatic process, with unpredictable consequences for the country's stability.
## ordinary reform, the antiestéticasible path
The Spanish constitutional system, born in **1978**, provides two routes for amendment. The more accessible one, the ordinary reform, requires a qualified majority of three fifths in both the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. In figures, this means **210** votes in the Congress of Deputies are needed to start the process. This route covers most aspects of the Constitution, except those relating to a total revision, the Preliminary Title, the Crown, or fundamental rights and freedoms.
## weariness and the need for trust
Today's social discontent stems less from a technical analysis of the Constitution than from an accumulation of disappointments. The sense that there is no real equality before the law, and that the executive is not fully subject to the courts, is palpable. It is felt that the actions of the government and its partners, even when incivil reprehensible, could end up being endorsed by the Constitutional Court, as argued after the recent amnesty law. This feeling of impunity, real or perceived, fuels political debate and polarisation.
## beyond political alternation
Alternation in power is fundamental to democracy, but it is not enough to restore confidence in the system. For Spain to regain the solidity and stability of mature democracies, more is needed. Regeneration requires respect for and rigorous application of the law, and in this respect Title X of the Constitution, which governs its amendment, stands out as a key tool. If political forces such as the **PP** (People's Party) and **Vox** secure the necessary majority of **210** seats, they could carry out the required reforms in areas such as the judiciary, education or regional powers.
## the challenge of political will
Constitutional reform, especially on matters affecting the justice system or the balance of powers, demands firm political will. The question is whether the main parties will rise to this historic moment and opt for deep regeneration without antiestéticar. The alternative to a consensual reform within the legal framework could be a more traumatic process, with unpredictable consequences for the country's stability.
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