The spokesperson of the coalition Por Andalucía, Antonio Maíllo, has announced that his group in the Andalusian Parliament intends to develop an opposition task of a "pedagogical" nature with which, at the same time, to propose "an alternative government" in the community against the policies promoted or agreed upon by the tandem PP-A and Vox.
The also federal coordinator of Izquierda Unida (IU) has detailed in an interview with Europa Press that Por Andalucía wants to exercise its role of opposition by combining work in the "institutional" realm of the Parliament with the strengthening of the "social connection, that is, the ability to create networks of antifascist consciousness, of democratic consciousness against the drift" of the PP-A and Vox Executive.
In this line, Maíllo has pointed out that the current Andalusian Government maintains "a constant" that, in his opinion, "must continue to be fought": a "transversal" trend to "criminalize the victims." He has recalled that, according to his criteria, it already happened in the past legislature with the conflict of breast cancer screenings, and that it has been repeated this July with the Minister of Health, Presidency and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, in his "first statement" about the fire in Los Gallardos (Almería), in which 14 people died, by stating that "saying that the people who died" was "because they had ignored the instructions" of the authorities.
In contrast to that version, the leader of Por Andalucía has replied that "many of them left" their homes "before there had been any instruction" from the Junta.
In the current parliamentary scenario, in which the opposition to the Junta Government falls on PSOE-A, Adelante Andalucía, and Por Andalucía, all of them leftist formations, Maíllo has emphasized that "it is not difficult to find points of agreement" among the three groups, given that they share their "commitment" to "prevent the privatization of public services."
"Relentless opposition" and defense of public services
In this context, the spokesperson has emphasized that Por Andalucía "has very clear leftist positions regarding the defense of public services," and that it will promote "a relentless opposition in the defense of those public services, and certainly against climate denialism" and "gender violence," in addition to "a work of denunciation and social connection that is fundamental."
Maíllo holds that "the best opposition that can be made is one that connects with the majority sentiment of the Andalusian people and, therefore, allows for the analysis of the construction of an alternative that implies a change of government in the next legislature."
In that direction, he has defended that "this must be a goal for which we, without a doubt, are going to work, with the desire" to "build a project that links the majority of the Andalusian people, and that implies the construction of an alternative." He has emphasized that Por Andalucía is not content with "staying in the opposition guard just like that," something that, in his opinion, would be "a mistake, because that leads to frustration if it does not become a government alternative."
For this reason, he has committed that the coalition will exercise an opposition "to build an alternative so that the Government (of the Junta) changes" after the upcoming regional elections.
Electoral balance and objectives for the next legislature
Regarding the result of the elections on May 17, the former candidate of Por Andalucía for the Presidency of the Junta has admitted that in the coalition they have not been "satisfied with the maintenance of the results" regarding the electoral appointment of June 19, 2022, when they also achieved five seats. However, he has valued that these data reflect a "resistance in a very negative context due to having the group in permanent convulsion, with deputies who perhaps did a less intense job."
Maíllo has acknowledged that Por Andalucía did not reach "the objectives" it had set for these elections, but it did manage to convey the "message that a left that gets involved in governments does not disappear," since the coalition —in which forces like IU and Movimiento Sumar participate, which support the Government of Pedro Sánchez— "has not disappeared, something that in other parliaments has had more difficulties."
Looking to the future, he has pointed out that now "the only thing" left is "to work" to achieve "in four years," in the next regional elections, to increase their "electoral support." He is convinced that this will be "without a doubt," relying on "a formidable parliamentary group" with members "very cohesive around the work and activities."
He highlighted that "we are the group that, by far, has presented the most initiatives since the new Parliament was constituted, and that orbit of social connection and very well-directed and cohesive institutional work is going to have positive results in four years."
Relationship with Podemos and openness to other forces
Asked about the role of Podemos after the purple party joined at the last minute the lists of Por Andalucía but was left without representation, Maíllo explained that in his group they are "open" to "any organization that wants to work" with the coalition, starting from the idea that they are "at the service of the Andalusian people and the Andalusian working class."
"And that has to be above any other consideration," he emphasized, before concluding that "thinking minds and helping hands are always welcome to shape" the "opposition work proposal" of Por Andalucía, "because what is to come is very tough."