The mayor of León, José Antonio Diez (PSOE), reiterated this Wednesday that he has not received "any kind of pressure" from the socialist leadership regarding his decision to attend the concentration called in support of Ceuta in light of the migration crisis, an event promoted by León's civil society.
The mayor expressed his desire for the call to achieve massive support from the citizens of León and insisted that he remains committed to attending the event: "Of course I will be there this afternoon," he emphasized.
Diez had already announced last Monday that he would be present at the concentration and then defended the need to "move away" from partisanship and demonstrate "state height." "I believe that what is important here is to move away from partisanship, which some political parties endorse or engage in, and what needs to be demonstrated is a state height," he stated, emphasizing that political formations must position themselves "at the level" and reach state agreements on this issue, instead of seeking "political advantage" in matters that affect society as a whole.
In those statements, he also explained that two distinct mobilizations have been organized in León: one supported by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) and another arising from citizen initiative. It is in the latter that he has decided to participate: "I think I am not doing anything strange by being present and supporting, evidently, the Ceuta people, who I believe is at a moment when it needs to clearly show the support of the people."
At the same time, the mayor focused on the importance of attending this concentration to advocate for the defense of national sovereignty and Spanish borders, without forgetting the humanitarian dimension "so hard and so difficult" that is being experienced in Ceuta. "It must be taken into account that the people who have now entered Ceuta are people, as I said, they have rights that are endorsed by the United Nations itself, but also by international law," he stressed.