PSOE, CHA and IU have denounced this Monday in the Cortes of Aragón that PP and Vox have taken advantage of their majority in the expanded Table of the Economy Commission to veto the appearance of the general director of SMEs, Self-Employed, Internal Trade and Consumption of the regional Government, Carmen Herrarte, requested after her "controversial comments" on social media during the fire in Las Peñas de Riglos.
The three parties maintain that "this decision represents a new attempt to limit the oversight work of the Government of Aragón" that corresponds to the opposition groups.
In a statement, they recalled that Herrarte published during the fire that "the 'climate change' of the terrible fire in Las Peñas de Riglos is already in provisional prison without bail" and linked the alleged author to the regularization of migrants promoted by the Government of Spain, "a statement that was later proven false."
These statements triggered criticism from the opposition, which demanded her dismissal and now insists that the general director attend the Cortes to provide explanations.
The socialist deputy Carlos Dueso has denounced "the lack of democracy that exists in the Cortes of Aragón" and has accused PP and Vox of applying "the parliamentary roller" to prevent Herrarte from appearing and giving explanations.
Dueso has emphasized that the Table had already addressed this appearance and that it was accepted unanimously by all groups. "Who called Mr. Bancalero and Ms. Marta Fernández to prevent this appearance? We do not know and they have not clarified it for us," he stated.
References to the Constitutional Court and criticism of PP and Vox
The socialist deputy has also recalled that the Constitutional Court has already ruled on the right of deputies to question members of the Government about the statements they make. "It is clear that what the Popular Party and Vox do not want is for Carmen Herrarte to come to this commission to face some statements that are, of course, shameful and unacceptable," he affirmed.
For his part, the CHA deputy Miguel Jaime Angós has warned of "a political maneuver by PP and Vox that we consider absolutely unacceptable and that represents a new attempt to limit the oversight work of the Government of Aragón that corresponds to the opposition groups."
Jaime Angós has emphasized that "today has not been a matter of parliamentary reorganization. It has been a political maneuver to prevent a high-ranking official of the Government of Aragón from having to give explanations." He recalled that CHA already demanded the dismissal of Herrarte after his words during the fire and lamented that now PP and Vox block him from answering the questions of the parliamentary groups.
"The Cortes of Aragón are not here to protect the high-ranking officials of Mr. Azcón. They are here to oversee their actions and demand accountability," Jaime Angós has considered, who added that "these Cortes are not anyone's ranch nor can they change the rules of the game every time a hearing becomes politically uncomfortable."
Finally, the IU deputy Marta Abengochea has pointed out that this type of situation "is repeating itself" and has criticized "that not allowing the opposition to act, that applying the roller and that not letting us exercise democratic control, which is our prerogative and our job."
Abengochea has noted that the case of Herrarte is not an isolated incident and has mentioned the delays in other hearings requested by the opposition, such as that of the general director of Emergencies to explain the management of the summer fires and that of the general director of Educational Policy, requested since his appointment. "The Government of Aragón will have the absolute majority, but what it certainly does not have is a democratic culture and I believe that it is becoming evident every day that passes," she concluded.