Spain amends its constitution to replace term ‘handicapped’ with ‘persons with a disability’
ABC News
Spain’s Parliament has voted to amend the country's constitution for the third time, removing the term “handicapped” and replacing it with “persons with a disability.”
MADRID -- Spain’s Parliament voted on Thursday to amend the country's constitution for the third time in its history, removing the term “handicapped” and replacing it with “persons with a disability.”
The change has long been a demand of people with disabilities in Spain. The amendment to Article 49 also added that “public administrations will pursue policies that guarantee the complete autonomy and social inclusion of people with disabilities.”
Spain’s ruling Socialist Party and the conservative opposition Popular Party agreed to make the change in a rare moment of consensus between the European nation’s largest political parties.
The amendment was also backed by all the other, smaller parties represented in the chamber, except for the far-right Vox party. It passed by a vote of 312 to 32. It required the support of three-fifths of the Parliament’s lower chamber and must also be passed by the Senate, with the same margin.
“Today is a great day for our democracy,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who asked for forgiveness in name of the country for having taken so long to make the change.
