The Ministry of Justice, Home Affairs and Public Administration, under the leadership of Gabriela Bravo, has uncovered a new hurdle on the path to its plan to end prostitution. Allegations raised by the Department for Equality and Inclusive Policies, led by Generalitat’s Vice-President Mónica Oltra, now join those presented by Generalitat’s Second Vice-President Hector Illueca. The proposed amendment to the Demonstrations Law imposes fines of up to 60,000 euros on brothels, a strategy that fails to persuade observers who believe that punitive measures alone will not resolve the issue. Critics argue that sanctions risk pushing prostitution further underground unless viable alternatives for women in prostitution contexts are provided.
The Unides Podem argument against the reforms shows that two of Botànic’s three partners have not fully embraced the anti-slavery path championed by the ministry, which is part of the socialist quota in Consel. As a result, the roadmap favored by Bravo and aligned with PSVP-PSOE assumptions has shown limited progress. Before any measures can operate within the Cortes, they require consensus within the tripartite government, a hurdle that currently seems difficult to clear based on the initial text. The fact that all three political forces approved an illegal proposal last October calling for prostitution abolition does not necessarily indicate shared agreement on every aspect.
Objections from Oltra’s ministry and the Economy ministry, both connected to Compromís, triggered significant tensions within Botànic. Bravo has asserted that the plan overreaches the powers it claims to have, while emphasizing that the anti-slavery approach did not reduce harm and, in many cases, harmed women involved in prostitution. The minority partner aims to halt the flames and temper the debate. They argue that the second presidency’s allegations are offered in a constructive, purposeful, and dialogical spirit.
They stress that they share, with the Unides Podem leadership, the urgent commitment to eradicating all forms of gender-based violence, in line with international conventions ratified by the Spanish state. They insist that the legislation must align with its core aim: preventing violent situations from arising. In practical terms, this means safeguarding the integrity of women in prostitution and ensuring institutions can offer safe, viable alternatives for those affected by sexual exploitation.
Oltra contends that Bravo’s anti-slavery proposal should be rejected on authority grounds and on efficacy
According to Unides Podem, the goal is to guarantee the safety of women in prostitution by monitoring facilities where the sector operates, ensuring that no woman is left without protection. Yet, the strategy of prosecuting and sanctioning third parties involved in promoting or advertising establishments, or soliciting sexual services as the bill proposes, without parallel alternatives, could push exploitative situations further underground and complicate detection and prosecution. The coalition therefore calls for a broader approach that includes education, victim support, safe reporting channels, and professional training for those who work to help these women.
Without robust and feasible options for those trapped in prostitution, and without policies that support a genuine transition toward sexual awareness and education for consumers, the amendment to Law 14/2010 risks not eliminating prostitution but rather concealing it and reducing protections for women in such circumstances.