The spokesperson of the PSOE of Extremadura, Manuel José González Andrade, has emphasized that his party does not fear "any demonstration" in support of Ceuta but "quite the opposite," although he has pointed out that the call promoted by the FEMP for next Wednesday has been launched in a "unilateral" manner from the presidency of the organization and with "seven political parties against it."
"The PSOE does not fear, quite the opposite, any demonstration. I insist, quite the opposite. Now, there has been a call from the president of the FEMP with seven political parties against that call because she has done it unilaterally," González Andrade has indicated.
In response to that call, he has highlighted that the councils of Mérida and Almendralejo, both under socialist governments, have managed to agree on a concentration "unanimously" in support of Ceuta on the same Wednesday, the 2nd, although at different times than those set by the FEMP, and that, in his view, "it seems (the one from the FEMP) has not had much follow-up."
"In Extremadura, the call from the FEMP seems to have not had much follow-up... Welcome demonstrations, now demonstrations as the vice president of the Junta de Extremadura says against the socialist mafia, which is what they are using to call this demonstration, those are undoubtedly not welcome for the PSOE," the socialist leader emphasized this Monday in a statement to the media in Mérida.
Thus, he has stressed the "absolute solidarity" of the PSOE of Extremadura with the citizens of Ceuta, while defending "coexistence" and "also institutional responsibility" in the face of a situation he considers "serious enough to turn it into an electoral competition."
"A serious border crisis has been experienced and, subsequently, an extremely complex humanitarian crisis," González Andrade has pointed out, who has demanded "responsibility" from the Executive of María Guardiola in Extremadura because "politics must also serve to put out social fires, not to douse them with gasoline."
"In times of tension, the words of those of us who have political responsibilities have consequences. And politics must also serve to put out social fires, not to douse them with gasoline. Because if fascist discourses are pronounced, consequently there can be fascist actions, as is happening in Ceuta," he has warned.
In this line, he has defended that the president María Guardiola "has to explain" issues such as, for example, why the Board did not attend the Sectorial Conference held last week and "has rejected in writing the aid of 25 million euros to Ceuta."
"Later we found out that President Guardiola says she does not reject the aid to Ceuta. This is the house of the messes we have been talking about for months. Does the president not know what is happening in the government she presides over? This is something unusual and this has to be explained by President Guardiola," he has claimed.
Electoral objectives of the PSOE in Extremadura
In relation to the start of the new political course, González Andrade has set as a goal the upcoming municipal elections, with the intention of "revalidating" the current socialist mayoralties and working until May 2027 so that in those municipalities where the PSOE is "an alternative" it can become "government."
In this context, he has pointed out that, if that goal is achieved, "undoubtedly" the PSOE would maintain control of the two provincial councils of Extremadura.
The Diada of Catalonia will be celebrated in Extremadura
Regarding the events of the Diada of Catalonia that will take place in Extremadura, the socialist spokesperson has valued it as an "excellent news."
"We celebrate that the Diada is celebrated for the first time outside of Madrid in Extremadura. It is an institutional act, but we in the PSOE also welcome it as a tribute to all those people who in the late 50s, the 60s, and early 70s went to Catalonia to contribute and work so that Catalonia is today what it is," he has indicated.
Thus, he has emphasized that for the regional PSOE it is "excellent news that the Diada leaves Madrid and is celebrated this year for the first time in Extremadura."