The Ministry of Defense has decided to grant the mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, the Grand Cross of the Naval Merit with white distinction, one of the highest distinctions of this corps.
As reported this Friday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), the decoration is approved at the initiative of the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, and after the corresponding deliberation of the Council of Ministers.
The BOE resolution specifies that the distinction is awarded "in consideration of the merits and circumstances that pertain to don Abel Caballero", for which he is considered to meet the conditions to receive the Grand Cross of the Naval Merit with white distinction.
This military recognition is directed at persons who have demonstrated merits, work, actions, deeds or outstanding services, linked to the performance of missions or duties assigned ordinarily or extraordinarily to the Armed Forces, or related to the field of Defense.
Born in 1956, Caballero is a doctor in Economics from the Universities of Cambridge and Santiago de Compostela and also holds a master's degree in Economics from the University of Essex. Added to his academic career is his qualification as a Merchant Marine Pilot from the Coruña School.
BNG criticism of the decoration
The Defense decision has sparked a quick reaction from the municipal spokesperson of the BNG, Xabier Pérez Igrexas. Through his official profile on the social network 'X' (formerly Twitter), he has censured that this Grand Cross amounts to "a prize" for Caballero's "enthusiasm" as "propagandist of militarism and bellicism, in his insistence that Vigo be the venue for the archaic Armed Forces Parade".
Igrexas has underscored that this parade was rejected by a "massive social mobilization" and has recalled that, although the Bloc requested data on the cost that the organization of this event entailed for the City Council, they remain without a response 151 days later, "despite the Regulations requiring that it be done within a maximum period of 5 calendar days".