The Popular Party’s vice secretary of Education and Equality, Jaime de los Santos, has demanded that the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities and general secretary of the PSPV-PSOE, Diana Morant, ask for "forgiveness" or "leave" the Executive due to her "permanent strategy of insults, slights and attacks on those who do not think like her."
De los Santos made these remarks in Castellón, accompanied by the president of the provincial PP, Marta Barrachina, the president of the PP of the city of Castellón, Begoña Carrasco, and the head of the list to the Congress for this province, Elena Albalat, one day after Morant called the mayor of Elche (Alicante), Pablo Ruz, "pigeon breast", an expression that various PPCV leaders have publicly censured.
"She is the same minister who dared to compare Alberto Núñez Feijóo with Hitler and who now again shows disrespect to colleagues like Pablo Ruz. Ms. Morant, ask for forgiveness or go. If you leave, all Spaniards will benefit and, especially, the citizens of this Valencian Community", he stated.
According to what the PP has explained in a note, de los Santos has accused the PSOE of trying to "appropriate" equality policies while, in his view, its track record "shows just the opposite". "We have been almost nine years with billboard policies, purple shirts and nothing more."
Along these lines, he has mentioned failures in anti-abuse bracelets, "which have left thousands of women in a situation of vulnerability", and he has demanded an audit into their operation and into the management of the funds allocated for these devices. "What is the point of having a Ministry of Equality if its officials have left women unprotected?", he asked.
Against what he describes as socialist propaganda, the 'popular' leader has defended an equality program focused on concrete measures: strengthening the protection of victims of gender-based violence from the Ministry of the Interior, guaranteeing free education from 0 to 3 years across the whole country, establishing a two-year zero-rate for self-employed women who are mothers, and improving reconciliation.
"Real feminism is the one that fights for equality between men and women, not the one that uses women as a tool for political confrontation", he emphasized.
He has also criticized the PSOE’s attempts to “divide” the LGTBI collective according to its ideology. “I am gay, I am from the Partido Popular, and I am proud of both things. There are no good or bad gays depending on what they think or what they vote for. We built democracy with free men and women, not Diana Morant or Pedro Sánchez or the Partido Socialista,” de los Santos emphasized, reaffirming the PP’s commitment against LGTBIfobia and reproaching the socialists for trying to decide who is entitled to defend rights and freedoms.
The deputy secretary of Education and Equality has also questioned the PSOE’s moral authority to give lessons in feminism while scandals involving socialist officials continue to accumulate. He has mentioned the cases of José Luis Ábalos and Tito Berni and accused the party of having turned equality into a discourse without credibility. “Women do not need more lessons from those who have made the banner their policy and hypocrisy their way of governing.”
“Going to the polls to throw out ‘sanchismo’”
Lastly, de los Santos urged people in Castellón and across the Valencian Community to get involved in the political change that, in his view, Spain needs. “On the next day 21 we have to fill the bullring in Valencia to accompany and support Alberto Núñez Feijóo. We have an appointment with the future of our country and with a project that wants to restore responsibility, management, and respect for institutions.”
“And on November 29 everyone must go to the polls to throw out sanchismo and make Alberto Núñez Feijóo president. It’s time to tear down walls, recover calm, defend equality, and have a Government again that cares about citizens. Spain cannot continue for even one more day in the hands of an Executive that has lost trust and credibility. On 29N, it’s time for change,” he concluded.