The president of the PP and leader of the opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, confirmed this Saturday that his party will join the case opened in the National Court investigating what happened during the Ceuta crisis. In addition, he announced that on September 2 he will travel to the autonomous city to attend the Day of Ceuta, which he defined as "the Day of all Spain."
During his speech at the opening event of the political course of the PP held in the Pontevedra municipality of Cerdedo-Cotobade, Feijóo defended that citizens have "the right to know the whole truth" about what happened in Ceuta. He described the appearances of the ministers regarding this crisis in recent days as "pathetic," emphasizing the discrepancies within the Executive regarding the information prior to the massive entry.
In this regard, he recalled that the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, claims that the Intelligence services acted and informed the Police, the Civil Guard, and the Government, "while, according to Feijóo, the Executive says that she is not telling the truth."
"It is evident that, at a minimum, someone is lying, and I believe that they all lie," the 'popular' leader stated. He reiterated his demand that the director of the National Intelligence Center (CNI), Esperanza Castelerio, attend the Senate to detail when the warning was given, what data was transferred, and what the Government knew before the illegal entry of thousands of immigrants into Ceuta on July 30 and 31.
After insisting on the need for these clarifications, Feijóo warned that "there will be consequences" and made public the decision of the PP to join the judicial procedure being instructed in the National Court regarding these events. "Those responsible for the abandonment will have to appear and account before Justice," he pointed out.
The leader of the PP emphasized that Ceuta "is not a specific problem," but "the symptom of a collapsed Government," and mentioned corruption, parliamentary blockage, the absence of Budgets, discoordination, the internal crisis of the Executive, and the "abandonment of public matters" as manifestations of "the same way of governing."
"We have seen in recent months the extinguished Spain, the scorched Spain, and the invaded Spain. For Ceuta, they took a month; to steal, they took a few days. Frivolity, incompetence, and irresponsibility is the Parthenon of Sánchez's politics in recent years," he added.
CRITICISMS OF THE GOVERNMENT PARTNERS FOR "WASHING THEIR HANDS"
Feijóo has extended his criticisms to the parliamentary allies of President Pedro Sánchez, whom he reproached for "washing their hands" and limiting themselves now to making "statements for the gallery." "They are responsible, they are all responsible," he emphasized.
He has maintained that what happened in this crisis affects "the very existence of the Nation, its sovereignty, and its territorial integrity" and that it demands an "immediate, coordinated, brave, and determined" reaction. In contrast, he has accused the Government of "being absent," "closing for vacation," and "abandoning Ceuta."
Likewise, he has criticized the Executive for taking almost a month to "copy the proposals of the PP" to declare the situation of interest for national security, establish a single command, request reinforcements from Frontex, and announce an increase in the staff of Immigration, among other actions.
SEPTEMBER 2, "THE DAY OF ALL SPAIN"
The 'popular' president has detailed that he will travel this Wednesday to Ceuta coinciding with the Day of the City "on behalf of the first party of Spain." He has emphasized that, "in addition, this year is not only the Institutional Day of Ceuta, it is more than ever the Day of all Spain."
He has also recalled that on that same day, at eight in the evening, there will be gatherings in the squares of the municipalities called by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) to convey to the Ceutans that "they are not alone" and that "we are not going to abandon you." Feijóo has encouraged citizens to join and has insisted that the call "is not against anyone."
In his speech, he has praised the "fortitude and dignity" of the Ceutan people and the work of the president of the Autonomous City, Juan Jesús Vivas, of the PP, whom he has described as "a statesman." "During this crisis, the State was him and the Government abandoned Ceuta in the hands of the president of the city," he has emphasized.
"THERE IS MORE DIGNITY IN A POLICE STATION THAN IN THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT"
Feijóo has also dedicated part of his speech to the Armed Forces and the State Security Forces and Corps that acted in Ceuta, emphasizing that they "have fulfilled" while those who direct them "do not know how to give instructions," "do not provide means or legal coverage to act," and "leave them sold and overwhelmed."
"Those who protect us deserve respect, means, and dignity," he claimed, before assuring that "there is more dignity in a police station and in a barracks of the Civil Guard than in the entire Government of Spain."
In his conclusion, the opposition leader has once again presented Ceuta as "the symptom of a collapsed Government" and has linked this crisis with other conflicts that he attributes to the Executive. "We have seen in recent months the extinguished Spain, the scorched Spain, and the invaded Spain, something that has never happened before," he summarized.