The Government spokesperson and Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, insisted this Tuesday that the strike constitutes a fundamental right and called for "respect" and that "the pain of the victims not be used politically," after the PP leader and candidate for President of the Government, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, asked the unions to call off the general strike planned for next November 11 following the railway accident registered last week in Urda (Toledo).
At the press conference after the Council of Ministers, when questioned about these statements, Saiz emphasized that the right to strike is recognized in the Spanish Constitution and must be respected, while asking that the suffering of the victims be kept out of political confrontation.
With these words she responded to Feijóo, who this Tuesday, at an informational breakfast organized by Europa Press, urged the unions to "reconsider" the general strike "against the opposition" since, as he stated, if before it "was incomprehensible," after the railway accident it is "a grave mistake".
Feijóo stressed that he is not disputing the constitutional right to strike, but the moment chosen for the call. In this sense, he highlighted that Spain has just suffered a railway tragedy and that there are, for all to see, "deep weaknesses of the system whose political responsibility corresponds exclusively to the Government".
"And that is why I want to address the unions directly. Reconsider that strike called against the opposition as the campaign director of the Socialist Party has confirmed. Before it was incomprehensible. 69 dead later it is a grave mistake," the PP leader emphasized.
Feijóo added that the unions did not promote a strike "in eight years of Government" of Pedro Sánchez and asked them not to call one now "three weeks before being called to the polls". "Do not do it or you will link your image to Pedro Sánchez forever," he concluded.