The Mesa del Congreso de los Diputados opened disciplinary proceedings against the conservative MP Ana Vázquez on 29 September 2026. The move follows an incident on 23 September, when Vázquez held up a can of pepper spray in the chamber. The Speaker of Parliament, Francina Armengol then ordered the MP to leave the Hemiciclo, as parliamentary staff considered the object shown to be a weapon.
Following the incident, parts of the parliamentary building in Madrid were temporarily closed. According to consistent reports from RTVE, EFE and Europa Press , several people reported irritation symptoms; police temporarily cordoned off toilet areas. Whether, and to what extent, irritant was actually released is the subject of an ongoing investigation. Vázquez later said that the canister she had shown was empty.
With the proceedings now open, the Mesa del Congreso is considering possible disciplinary measures and sanctions for disorder. The body is responsible for maintaining order in Parliament and imposing sanctions for breaches of its rules of procedure. Parliamentary lawyers point out that, under certain conditions, self-defence sprays are classified as weapons in Spain and are not permitted in the chamber. Possible consequences range from a reprimand to fines; no decision has yet been made.
The incident has heightened the already confrontational mood between the governing camp and the opposition. Supporters of stricter rules in the Congreso de los Diputados believe it confirms that bringing potentially dangerous objects into the chamber and displaying them undermines the safety of MPs, staff and visitors. Representatives of the Partido Popular say there has been an overreaction and point to the right to illustrate political positions forcefully, for example on public safety. These attributions reflect the political dispute; they are not the same as the legal assessments in the ongoing proceedings.
Regardless of the political dispute, the Mesa del Congreso’s review is likely to clarify how objects presented by MPs in the chamber should be handled in future. Attention is also focused on Parliament’s internal security procedures and on the responsibilities of MPs and their teams. The results of the investigations and any possible sanctions are expected in the coming days; any further criminal or disciplinary consequences will depend on the authorities’ findings.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).