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Spanish Government will give in to the economical pressure and will change the Law which regulates the prohibition of smoking in public places, in order to satisfy the requirement made to Madrid provincial authorities by Sheldon Adelson, the USAn gambling tycoon, as an essential condition for building the gaming complex known as Eurovegas.
But changing the laws specifically for removing the smoking ban within just Eurovegas is a regrettable recoil in the defence of a citizens’ right and principle which was so hard to achieve in Spain: the preference given to people’s right to not inhaling tobacco smoke over the right to smoke; also, while discriminating the rest of public establishments whose owners would also like to be granted such exception, this change means a breach in the equality principle. Worse yet: changing the law just for ensuring the maximum profit of a magnate, Spain prostitutes itself with unprecedented degree and effrontery.
Reasons given by both Madrid Province politicians and, very specially, Alcorcón mayor David Pérez, for adopting this measure are weak if not plain stupid. On one hand they say that many jobs will be created; and certainly it will; but, as usual, politicians only look at the short term, and they deliberately ignore the social and environmental impact that such a center for consumption and waste may have, or the indirect costs (almost impossible to work out) that might come. On the other hand, they explain that there needn’t be any unlooked for health issues because, after all, getting into a casino is a voluntary decision, isn’t it? This is as absurd as can be. Isn’t it a voluntary decision to get into any bar, pub or disco? That’s exactly what the law was passed for: it is meant for preserving the health of those who want to exert their right to go into a bar without becoming passive smokers. The law should be the same for every such locals: either smoking is banned everywhere, or nowhere.
Then, what’s behind this weird modification of the law? Quite simple: first, the political recognition and the electoral goal of those parties involved, thanks to the sensible employment and economical activity increases during the construction phase, and even afterwards, at least for a few years. So, selfish interests, that’s all. Once more, the convenience of some persons are put ahead of the society as a whole, because such a decision will weaken the anti-smoking law to the point of making it totter. Second, the likely comissions, gifts or perquisites to be received in return. Not a possibility at the reach of the small pub owner, lacking money enough to buy the politicians. If Spain were not a banana republic, it would not yield to the money pressure and accept such a unfair exception. But one thing is for sure: Mr Adelson has not chosen Spain for Eurovegas because he loves us so much, but because he knows that Spanish laws can be bought with money.