The candidate to Congress for Barcelona and mayor of Badalona (Barcelona), Xavier García Albiol, has branded the general strike of November 11 as hypocrisy, considering that it is not actually linked to housing, nor to improving working conditions, nor to the needs of young people, but rather that it is a "political strike" in support of the PSOE and left-wing parties ahead of the election appointment.
He said this this Saturday during a pre-campaign event of the PP held in the Foix library, in the Sarrià neighborhood of Barcelona. The event was inaugurated by the PP president in the Barcelona City Council, Daniel Sirera, and it also included the presence of the president of the PP in Catalonia, Alejandro Fernández, and the party's general secretary, Miguel Tellado.
Albiol has reproached the members of the central Executive and their parliamentary partners for "how they dare to support a strike" over the housing crisis when, as he has recalled, when they came to power this issue ranked 16th among citizens' concerns and now it is at number 1. For this reason, he has pointed to them as the main people responsible for having sunk the housing offer.
Encampment for housing in Plaça Catalunya
Among the issues he has assured that the PP wants to reverse, he cited the encampment for housing installed in Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona, after the City Council decided to keep it and, consequently, to renounce placing the Christmas lights: "It is a genuine shame."
He has described as a scandal that "a radical minority" has taken over the city's most emblematic square and conditions something that, for the vast majority, forms part of their traditions. In his view, the conflict goes beyond the debate over Christmas lighting and affects the image of the city, of Catalunya, and its economic projection, and he has criticized that the municipal Government does not have, in his words, the necessary determination to evict the encampment.
Squatting and security
The Popular Party leader has also focused his remarks on public security and on the fight against squatting, using the case of Badalona as a reference. He explained that, since he has been mayor, crime has been reduced by 10%, although he has clarified that progress has not gone further, especially against squatting, because the central Government, for 8 years, has refused to change the legal framework.
On this line, he has appealed to all those who, regardless of their political orientation, consider that squatting, crime, and the housing crisis are urgent problems that must be addressed: "I am going to ask them for their vote."
Preventing Colau from reaching the Vice Presidency
Albiol has argued that the PP is the party capable of responding to these concerns and has promised to do so "without any complexes". He has emphasized that on November 29, citizens are faced with two models: that of Alberto Núñez Feijóo, surrounded by experts prepared to drive Spain forward, or that of Pedro Sánchez together with the leader of the Broad Front and former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, as vice president.
"This is no joke; he is taking it very seriously. Ada Colau is going to replace the role that Yolanda Díaz is currently playing," Albiol said, recalling that, in his view, Barcelona’s experience shows that the city has not yet recovered after the 8 years of government by the Comuns.
Sirera calls for "evicting" Sánchez
For his part, Daniel Sirera has assured that, during the campaign, the PP will focus its efforts on "evicting" Sánchez from the Government, while also attacking the management of the municipal executive of the PSC in Barcelona.
"What have the socialists done for Barcelona?" Sirera asked, before asserting that the Catalan capital is the most insecure city in Spain, the one with the most expensive rental price per square meter in the country, and the European capital of illegal squatting, as he has defended.