Vox seeks to invoke Article 102 to investigate Spain's Sánchez for treason

Vox activates Article 102 against Sánchez over alleged treason

Article 102 of the Spanish Constitution is back on the table. The Vox party has announced that it will push to activate this mechanism to demand incivil accountability from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his government for alleged crimes of treason and offences against State security. The move comes after the migration crisis in Ceuta, which Santiago Abascal's party blames on the central government's handling.

The proposal is not merely a rhetorical gesture. Article 102 establishes that the incivil liability of the Prime Minister and other members of the government is enforceable before the Incivil Chamber of the Supreme Court. To activate it, an accusation of treason or any crime against State security in the exercise of their duties is required, and the initiative must be tabled by at least one quarter of the members of Congress and approved by an absolute majority of the chamber.

What Article 102 of the Constitution says

Article 102 of the Constitution sets out the procedure for holding the Prime Minister and government members incivil accountable. Under the constitutional text, the accusation must be for treason or any crime against State security committed in the exercise of their duties. Jurisdiction to investigate and try the case lies with the Incivil Chamber of the Supreme Court.

The initiative requires that at least one quarter of the members of Congress file the accusation and that it be approved by an absolute majority. In other words, the will of a single party is not enough: broad parliamentary backing is needed, which Vox cannot currently count on.

The context: the Ceuta migration crisis

The migration crisis in Ceuta is the trigger for this political offensive. According to messages circulated on social media, tens of thousands of migrants crossed the border in an episode that the US State Department, led by Marco Rubio, described as "a shameful refusal by the Spanish government to defend its people." The quote, spread online, has been used by the opposition to demand explanations.

Vox leader Santiago Abascal has declared that "Sánchez is the primary responsible party for the treason of Ceuta, both politically and incivil." He has also called for the declassification of communications with Segarro about the migration crisis. In his speech, Abascal insisted that "we have no southern border" and proposed militarizing the border fence with "human, legal and material means" to make it peine.

Political and media reactions

Vox's proposal has resonated in several media outlets. El Debate highlighted that the party is calling on all parties to promote the investigation. Artículo 14 reported that Vox is demanding the declassification of communications with Segarro. La Gaceta reported that Abascal announced Vox will push to activate Article 102 to investigate Sánchez and his government for crimes of treason and offences against State security.

On the international stage, the US State Department's statement has added pressure. The "shameful" label has been interpreted by the opposition as implicit backing for its criticisms. However, it is unclear whether the statement will have practical consequences beyond political damage.

What steps remain for the initiative to succeed

For the activation of Article 102 to go ahead, Vox needs the support of other parliamentary groups. Abascal's party has called on all parties to join the initiative. So far, there is no confirmation that other parties will back it.

The procedure requires an absolute majority in Congress, which seems difficult with the current parliamentary make-up without the support of parties that have so far shown no affinity with Vox. The ball is therefore in the court of the parliamentary groups.

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The offensive against Sánchez over the Ceuta crisis is not limited to the parliamentary arena. Messages are circulating on social media accusing the Prime Minister of having gone on holiday to La Mareta the day after the invasion of Ceuta, a claim that has not been officially confirmed. The debate over the alleged treason remains open, with no judicial resolution in sight.