The Government delegate in Cantabria, Pedro Casares (PSOE), has denied that the institution he heads has "prohibited" any of the gatherings called for this afternoon-evening by the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) in front of the town halls in support of Ceuta, "neither in Santander nor in many other places in the country."
Casares expressed this on Wednesday in an interview on COPE, reported by Europa Press, in which he criticized the "partisan" use that, in his opinion, the PP is making of these calls, which he hopes will take place in a "peaceful" manner, after the Popular Party at the national level demanded that the government delegations "stop prohibiting them" because they are not "against anyone."
"It is a full-blown hoax," emphasized the delegate, who attributes these accusations to "a disinformation campaign by the right-wing."
Regarding the debate raised by the response of the Government Delegation in Cantabria to the communication from the Santander City Council about the gathering —in which it was indicated that the City Council could not appear as the organizer as it does not hold the right to assemble, so it will be held as an institutional act, as the Delegation pointed out—, Casares maintained that it is "a controversy that the PP has wanted to create" and recalled that, as a delegate, he has the "obligation" to ensure compliance with the law.
He specified that the right to assemble or gather "is not subject to prior authorization" and that it does not correspond to him to prohibit nor does he have "the authority to authorize a gathering. It simply needs to be communicated."
In this context, he emphasized "the partisan use" that, in his view, the mayor, Gema Igual (PP), is trying to make of the support for Ceuta, which has "the support of all Spaniards from day one," he stressed.
Casares extended this criticism to the FEMP, following the "unilateral" decision of its president, the 'popular' María José García-Pelayo, to promote the call for the gatherings.
"On September 1, that is, yesterday, the Santander City Council acknowledges its mistake in requesting the gathering and says that yes, it will be an institutional act. The Government Delegation has nothing to say about that. Therefore, it is a hoax that the Government Delegation or that this delegate has prohibited that gathering," he reiterated.
The also general secretary of the PSOE of Cantabria has reproached that PP and Vox "are using the people of Ceuta" and has defended that the citizens of Ceuta "are not supported with rhetoric, but with proposals, with economic support, with measures like those approved yesterday by the Council of Ministers," he pointed out.
Asked whether the PSOE has suggested to any mayor of its party not to join the concentration or if there has been any instruction from the Ministry of the Interior, Casares denied it and reiterated the support of the socialists for the autonomous city.
In this sense, he insisted that the party rejects "the partisan use that PP and Vox want to make" and assured that their mayors "are clear about it," he concluded.
Concentrations this afternoon and call for calm
On the other hand, Casares emphasized that any citizen can attend the concentrations —called at 8:00 PM in front of the town halls— "with all guarantees" and expressed his desire for the citizens to show their support in a "peaceful" manner. And not in what "PP or Vox intend them to be: a direct attack on the Government of Spain (PSOE-Sumar)," he added.
He added that many people will attend "totally convinced and in a completely peaceful manner to show their support for Ceuta and that has nothing to do with what PP and Vox are trying to politically use Ceuta for," he indicated.
In addition to Santander, other Cantabrian town halls, such as Torrelavega, Camargo, Astillero, and Santoña, among others, will also hold these support concentrations.