The president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, has taken advantage of the institutional event for the Day of the Region, held at the 'José Luis Perales' Auditorium in Cuenca, to send a message in the midst of a stage of political "tension" and to demand a firm defense of institutions. Before the authorities present, he stressed that the primary obligation of any public official is to "defend those institutions."
In his speech, he insisted that it is precisely "when you don't like" institutions that they must be protected the most, because it is then "when it truly has value" to preserve them.
Faced with "those who may think that institutions are not useful," he reiterated that for him they are and expressed his "unwavering support for all those who suffer attacks for doing their job," alluding explicitly to the Judiciary, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the State Security Forces and Corps, and the Armed Forces. "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."
He highlighted that judges, prosecutors, and agents "are children of democracy," as are the norms that regulate the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Armed Forces, and the State Security Forces and Corps, recalling that the PSOE is the party that "has been most in government" promoting these regulations.
García-Page called for "having things clear" and argued that democracy, "after 50 years, does not have to seek responsibilities outside of itself."
"What we have, for better or for worse, is what we Spaniards have decided through our representatives. It is important that this is very clear. I defend institutions to the hilt, those that must exist whether one government or another is in power," he concluded.
The regional president also recalled that norms such as the Penal Code and various procedural laws "are the work of democracy," and that many were approved "as a result of consensus" between the PP and PSOE.
Criticism of the political climate and call to reduce tension
For the leader from Castilla-La Mancha, one of the region's great strengths is that it is "in the heart of Spain," without being "any better or worse than its neighbors." He emphasized that the Constitution, soon to celebrate its 50th anniversary, granted the region "what was previously denied to it, the possibility of defending its own interests."
Following this reflection, he lamented that Spain is now "further from the spirit of the Transition" than ever before, with a notable distance from "a time that was brilliant and successful."
He has denounced "institutionalized factionalism and populism", a dynamic that he assures "he and many others" want to reverse. From his experience as someone who "has been" in politics for years, he has advised "to ignore so much tension" and to avoid transferring it to "homes".
"Don't argue. The vast majority, 90% of the tension in the country, is designed tension. It comes from top to bottom. The tension is due to politicians' problems, not the street's. And we have to be vaccinated against this problem, even if it's hard to break out of the dynamic," he has stated.
He has expressed his conviction that there is "plenty of head and common sense" to "get out" of this situation, and has added that "there is a lack of people who have read Don Quixote". "It's enough to read it, essentially there's no need to resort to more manuals," he has pointed out, citing the chapters from the second volume of Cervantes' work in which Alonso Quijano offers Sancho Panza his 'Advice for good governance' before the squire takes charge of the island of Barataria.
An "optimistic" vision of Spain and Castilla-La Mancha
At another point in his speech, the head of the regional executive has asked "not to fall into any other kind of trap, because the fact that there are problems or that some have them does not mean that Spain is a failed state. Under no circumstances!".
"This country works, and it works well. It even works well when it has to correct or self-correct. And that is why I am especially proud," he has affirmed.
"When serious news comes out, affecting nothing more and nothing less than what should matter most to us, which is honesty, keep in mind that what is important is the correct and demanding functioning of institutions. The truth, no matter how they try, the truth admits no barriers of any kind. Because, moreover, it would not be good for the democratic system."
On a regional level, after acknowledging the work of public employees and alluding to economic indicators that, as he said, allow "us to keep filling that reservoir of self-esteem, work, and consequence of all," he has called for "in the face of so much noise, so much tension, a morale of optimism."
After insisting that "Spain must look at itself with better eyes," he has refocused his gaze on Castilla-La Mancha, a region that, in his opinion, presents a "clean horizon."
He has defended that "here we respect each other, here we reach agreements, here we practice moderation, with or without absolute majorities. Here we have institutional respect, here things work and are fulfilled, as best as possible, certainly always, with the laws. Believe me, the only way to continue is to do it together.
"That is why a celebration like this is a cause for pride, but it is also an incentive and almost a benchmark, that next year and the year after, where we celebrate it, we can say that we continue not the same, but even better," he concluded.