Ayuso's University Law Could Impose Fines of Up to €100,000 for Unauthorized Protests

The draft of the new regional university law by the Community of Madrid proposes fines ranging from €15,000 to €100,000 for conducting "unauthorized demonstrations that hinder the free and peaceful exercise of demonstrations that have been duly authorized or communicated within the campus" or for "allowing the occupation of any part of the campus, blocking access to them, or using university facilities."

The document, previewed by El País, also includes fines between €300 and €15,000 for "placing banners or symbols without proper authorization, or removing those that have been duly authorized." The text outlines a dozen scenarios that would constitute very serious offenses, such as "failing to ensure, by action or omission, plurality and freedom on campuses, especially freedom of expression and academic freedom," with fines ranging from €100,000 to €1 million.

This section also includes "exercising or condoning, by action or omission, any form of censorship, discrimination, or persecution based on birth, nationality, race, sex, religion, age, opinion, or any other personal or social condition or circumstance" or "hindering or obstructing the legitimate action of the State Security Forces within the university campus."

Other scenarios that would incur a very serious penalty include "failing to comply or allowing non-compliance with the Constitution and leaving fundamental rights unprotected or unfulfilled for those legitimately present on the university campus."

Such acts could lead to consequences beyond financial penalties, such as the total or partial closure of facilities, suspension of activities when the infraction causes "irreparable harm to students," or total or partial disqualification for a period not exceeding five years.

IMPEDING ACCESS TO CAMPUSES

Regarding serious offenses, beyond conducting unauthorized demonstrations, other actions are included, such as "allowing the occupation of any part of the campus or blocking access to them or using university facilities." "Vandalism" against facilities and buildings could also be fined up to €100,000.

Finally, minor offenses, including the placement of banners, will also penalize "lack of institutional decorum or minor disrespect towards university staff and the teaching work or students."

EDUCATION DEFENDS ACADEMIC FREEDOM

The Government of the Community of Madrid has defended that the new draft of the regional university law "not only does not infringe on university autonomy and academic freedom but aims to guarantee them."

This was expressed on Wednesday by the Minister of Education, Science, and Universities, Emilio Viciana, who stated that "the sanctioning regime provides universities with tools to effectively exercise autonomy and guarantee fundamental rights."

The regional government's president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, supported her minister's statement with a message on her X account (formerly Twitter), mentioning that "this is the truth of the draft University Law project."

The draft published on Wednesday develops several aspects that the regional government had been announcing over the past months and that had been known in previous texts, although it specifies the financial penalties for various actions.

Over the past year, actions have taken place on university campuses that fit within the sanctioning regime proposed in the draft, such as the camping and demonstrations in defense of Palestine that occurred last summer and have been repeated this year, or the incidents with events at the university involving former Vox deputy Iván Espinosa de los Monteros and the party's spokesperson in the Assembly, Isabel Pérez Moñino.

The new regional university law, known as the Law of Higher Education, Universities, and Science (LESUC), has been under negotiation for months between the Ministry of Education, Science, and Universities and the rectors of the six public universities.