The ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, has stated in an informative meeting held in Madrid that Spanish nationality implies the right to vote, and has asked not to open "impossible paths" to determine "who are truly Spanish, very Spanish or very very Spanish," in relation to the so-called grandchildren's law.
In that sense, Gabilondo has defended that the nationality granted to children and grandchildren of exiles through the grandchildren's law is within the "best spirit of the Transition", and has asked to avoid approaches that, in his opinion, lead to the recognition of the right to vote being blurred according to criteria not linked to the very condition of being Spanish.
Thus, Gabilondo has pointed out: "You cannot be Spanish with the right to vote or Spanish without the right to vote; rather, if you are Spanish, you have the right to vote. How can that be done? Well, you tell me. But what I find most difficult is to say that there is no right to vote while being Spanish", and has recalled that "it cannot be taken away and put back according to the day of the week" if it has already been said that one is Spanish.
The wait of the Supreme Court and the census of August 1
The ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, has indicated that "we are awaiting what the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court decides regarding the appeal of the State Attorney's Office", and has added that, in these elections, the electoral census that will prevail will be "the electoral census of August 1", so it will be the people who are on that census who will be able to vote.
In this context, the Supreme Court must decide on the appeal for reconsideration by the State Attorney's Office against the precautionary suspension of registrations in the Electoral Census of Absent Residents Abroad (CERA) agreed by the court. "It can be resolved, I believe, with the census. We have complaints from affected parties awaiting the court's decision," he said.
The ombudsman added that the decision taken must be respected.
"Who are truly Spanish"
Gabilondo has considered that, "that does not prevent some of us from having a position prior to that decision", and has defended that it would be interesting not to open "an impossible path, which is the path of discerning among all those who are registered, who are truly Spanish, very Spanish or very very Spanish". In that sense, he concluded: "Only those who turn 18 in the time that elapses from August 1 until the very day of the vote can be added to that list".