Spain takes 20 articles of Valencia's PP-Vox law to Constitutional Court

A law of 200 articles, 20 targeted

On Tuesday, 10 November, Spain's Council of Ministers agreed to ask the prime minister to file an unconstitutionality appeal against part of the Valencian law of accompanying measures to the 2026 regional budgets. The law, which covers fiscal, administrative and organisational matters for the Generalitat Valenciana, was approved in late July by the PP and Vox in the Corts Valencianes. Of its 200 articles, the government chose to challenge 20, which sources at the Ministry of Territorial Policy grouped into six blocks. Government spokeswoman Elma Saiz, who is also responsible for inclusion and migration, announced the decision at the press conference after the cabinet meeting. El País reported that Diana Morant, minister of Science and secretary general of the PSPV-PSOE, had already signalled the intention to appeal when the law was passed.

National priority in housing and benefits

The first of the six blocks concerns the principle of 'national priority' in access to housing and social benefits. According to the government's argument, the residence criteria and this principle make access depend on the applicant's origin, which breaches article 14 of the Constitution and the mandate of effective material equality in article 9.2. The government says this applies to foreigners and nationals alike wherever the autonomous community sets the residence requirement. Saiz said such provisions 'contradict basic conditions such as equality between persons and the status of foreign persons'. Other articles the government considers unconstitutional set family reunification of minors under guardianship as a priority.

“But the concept of 'national priority', as it was written into that law, flatly violated the Constitution.”

Roger Llanes, the government's delegate in the Valencian Community, made that remark to reporters during a visit to Torrent. He said it was 'evident' the law had to go to the Constitutional Court because the state must ensure effective equality among citizens.

Burka, niqab and face coverings

The appeal also targets the ban on wearing the burka or niqab in public spaces. A separate article requires people to keep their faces uncovered on public transport, in the civil service, in healthcare, in education and at public shows, with administrative fines for non-compliance, according to eldiario.es. The government says this invades state competence over public security, transport, basic civil service or health, depending on the case. It also argues the rule breaches article 14 through its deterrent and discriminatory effect. El País describes the measure as aimed at stopping Muslim women from wearing veils.

Education, the unborn and legal personality

The second bloc concerns LGTBI equality in schools. The government says the law downgrades the mandatory duty to promote equality and non-discrimination of LGTBI people in education centres, replacing it with a discretionary provision, which it says breaches article 149.1.30 of the Constitution. A further article removed explicit references to non-discrimination of LGTBI people and to sexual and gender diversity in family life within education. The limitation on offering alternative menus for cultural or religious reasons, which Saiz also cited, is challenged too. The third bloc covers the unborn: the law extends the duty to protect the right to life to the unborn, which the government says contradicts article 15. The government also argues the law alters legal personality, which is acquired at birth, and breaches articles 149.1.1 and 16.

Parliamentary arithmetic and what comes next

La Razón reports that the law passed with the votes of PP and Vox against PSPV-PSOE and Compromís, in the last plenary session of the political term. ABC notes that in May the Constitutional Court admitted a challenge filed by the Ombudsman against the 2025 accompanying law over changes to the Valencian trans law. The reports do not say when the court will rule on the appeal.