Spain’s snap election kills the terrace smoking ban and a string of other new laws
Smokers can rest easy when lighting up beside your lunch, but they aren’t the only ones whose plans have changed […]
The snap election in Spain has led to the repeal of several new laws, including the terrace smoking ban and a number of unfinished bills. With Congress and the Senate dissolved for a vote on November 29, any legislation that has not been passed by then will be scrapped. The government has re-approved two housing decrees that were previously rejected, but no attempts have been made to revive the tobacco bill or most other laws.
The tobacco ban, which would have prohibited smoking on terraces, beaches, public pools, sports facilities, and outdoor events with a 15-meter smoke-free zone around certain buildings, had been in the works since July. Spain's respiratory society found that half of non-smokers are exposed to smoke on terraces, while hospitality groups claimed that thousands of bars and jobs could be affected.
Politically, there was no unity among the parties, with the Popular Party leader calling the law poorly conceived. Other laws, such as the medicines law, asylum and foreigners laws, and the Families Law, have also been affected and are unlikely to be revived. The new parliament is set to meet on December 23, giving lawmakers the chance to reassess and potentially revive these laws.
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