Ayuso rewards the '12 guards from Parla' and asks Sánchez what future he will leave for our youth

The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, handed over this Saturday the 14 Grand Crosses of the Order on the occasion of May 2, the region's holiday.

On this occasion, and among the rest of distinguished personalities, there was a group of 12 students from the Humanejos Institute of Parla, recognized for having been able to rescue a woman on a beach in Ireland, when these young people were on their last day of their exchange stay in this country.

The 12 heroes, ‘the vigilantes of Parla’, have been decorated for being an example of the values that characterize the youngest Madrileños —this appointment highlights—, “for their responsibility, civility, and solidarity, when they helped this lady in Ireland, who was drowning in the sea”.

Such recognition —as Demócrata has exclusively learned— will take them in a few days before the embassy of Ireland in our country, where they will be congratulated again, this time at a diplomatic reception.

What future are we going to leave this youth?

The presence of this group of students - with whom this newspaper was able to speak and learn firsthand about the long hours of anguish they experienced, until they finally learned at the hospital that the person they had rescued was out of danger - served as a common thread for the Madrid president to pose the following question in her speech: “What future are we going to leave this youth, if their problems are not discussed and everything is politicized so that every answer always passes through the filter of ideology?”.

In Díaz Ayuso's opinion, there are enough good and beautiful things to tell them about life, about the opportunity to grow in a place like Madrid, that we can only tell them that we are not going to fail them.

And this is what can be said about the lifeguards of Parla, added the Madrid popular leader, since, without a doubt, "they are good and brave young people, who are an inspiration to all, because, in the face of the indifference of those who were there at that moment, when that woman was drowning and they were watching or recording the scene, they did not hesitate to act without knowing the lady at all. That is why —she highlighted— they are also the reflection of an awake and supportive youth, as is the youth of Madrid and Spain".

"Little support for Madrid"

With less optimism, the president assured that she would be lying if she did not express the concern she feels for "the situation Spain is going through". A situation —she remarked— that Madrid experiences in a particularly significant way, due to the little administrative support it has as a capital region, despite the fact that the Community of Madrid is the gateway to the whole world, as the international hub that it is, being, moreover —she stressed—, the most heterogeneous region in Spain, because it is made up of all ways of being Spanish.

Without governmental representation, without the presence of the Army, which the Ministry of Defense prohibited from the May 2nd parade —a tradition that dates back to the regional governments of former socialist president Joaquín Leguina—, and with the support of the president of the People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, his government team, former regional presidents and Mayor José Luis Álvarez del Manzano, deputies, mayors and councilors of Madrid, representatives of the Army and the Civil Guard, employers' associations like CEIM, with its president Miguel Garrido; the president of Ifema and current CEO of Grupo Indra, José Vicente de los Mozos, among other authorities, family members and journalists, he continued to ask himself: "How many opportunities are we losing in these circumstances?", which is why we must focus "on state projects that reform infrastructure —he affirmed—, thinking of the nation as a whole".

With measures —pointed out the Madrid president— that focus on the distribution of water for all, with incentives for doctors or reforms in transportation in all its forms, to continue structuring our country and continue attracting investments. And also —she delved into— with measures to take care of our self-employed, who are the ones who lift Spain's economy, at the same time that work is done to tackle the family crisis in our country due to the lack of children.

"Madrid, the engine of Spain"

On the contrary —he contrasted with this scenario—, “Madrid counts naturally on the whole nation, on its unity, on those societies that long to be free and on all the people who stand up to terror and arbitrary impositions, and come to Madrid choosing freedom and prosperity”.

“All together —he defended from the Royal House of Post Office, located in Puerta del Sol— we make this region the economic, political, and social engine of the country. That is why talent is also admired here —wherever it comes from—, just as our own natural and cultural heritage and that of our other sister regions is valued”.

“The good Madrilenian —he praised— knows how to admire Catalonia, just as the Catalan who truly loves his region knows how to do the same with others, starting with Madrid. And he knows that this is his home and that we are living our best moment, among other things, because neither nationalism nor identity ideologies have made us waste our time”.

Being free from political harassment and sectarianism —he continued in that political vein— has allowed the people of Madrid to appreciate what works, without complexes. We like to encourage those who prosper, without envy or fear, and to be eager to learn from prodigious people. To say "yes" to every good idea. And it teaches us not to waste time —he maintained— when someone is toying with us. That's when we say "get lost".

The Tour of Spain cycling race

Between the illusionism of the magician Jorge Blass and the music of the singer Paloma San Basilio, the last May 2nd gala of the Community of Madrid paused at La Vuelta Ciclista a España, which it decorated with a Grand Cross, "for its contribution to the sport of our country, being one of the three main cycling competitions in the world, thanks to the work of its team and its director, Javier Guillén", director of La Vuelta, who yesterday collected this award.

Regarding this great sporting event, Isabel Díaz Ayuso maintained that La Vuelta is one of the most beloved sporting competitions by all Spaniards, as —she affirmed— “it structures and exhibits our diverse geography, our heritage and natural wealth, and brings joy to the municipalities through which it passes, where it is awaited and remembered forever”.

“This is how the people of Madrid waited to receive the cyclists in the final stage; but, as everyone knows, it was boycotted —he recalled—. So —he emphasized— neither the athletes nor the organizers deserved an ending like that. Nor did the capital of Spain in the eyes of the world. That is why the Vuelta is honored today as it should be, in the name of cycling lovers, of the values of sport, and of the people of Madrid, who are always so hospitable”.

“Madrid will not let itself be controlled by anyone”

At the close of her speech, the president praised that “while we wait for the Army to return to its square, to this Puerta del Sol that misses it so much and whose echo resonates throughout Spain, we celebrate that our other legion, the people of Madrid, is represented by the historical reenactment that we are going to witness next in the square”.

“Madrid society —making a nod to the anniversary of that May 2, 1808— is another army that, without commanders or stripes, walks united, especially if it is put to the test and must respond in defense of its freedom.”

Dressed in a long red gown, with fine straps and a ruched bodice, with a flared and flowing skirt, Ayuso anticipated those present that Madrid "will not let itself be controlled by anything or anyone." "Because whoever tries to do so," she warned, "will once again find a dignified and resounding response."

"The number 1 in corruption is Sánchez"

In statements to Telemadrid and, after the historical reenactment of the May 2 Uprising, in a crowded Puerta del Sol, Isabel Díaz Ayuso made several politically significant statements, all directed at Sánchez, whom she had not explicitly mentioned at any point in her institutional speech before.

From this square, he reiterated again that, "whether this plot —for the Ábalos-Koldo-Aldama cases— is criminal or not, the judges will decide, the magistrates who are now judging this case, after so many testimonies and information". “But the number 1 in corruption —he insisted— is Sánchez, just as I am the number 1 of the Community”.

Likewise, he added that “the President of the Government lost his way a long time ago, just as he did within his party. We have seen it in the images from that Federal Committee twisting, manipulating, taking his own party to the extreme, splitting it into factions, promoting civil war and confrontation. And that —he predicted— is how it will be for as long as he believes he can. But he runs into a democracy, a separation of powers, ballot boxes. And this man can wish whatever he wants; if it were up to him, he would be perpetual, because nothing pleases him more than power, at the cost of the damage being done to this country”.