The president of the Xunta and leader of the PPdeG, Alfonso Rueda, argues that Pedro Sánchez has arrived "late" to the call for general elections and, in light of that appointment with the polls, has demanded a government that "believes in Galicia" and "does not discriminate" between autonomous communities. "If the general elections are before the municipal ones, much better. This way, this nightmare will end as soon as possible," he pointed out.
Rueda has delivered this message at the traditional opening event of the political course of the PP held in Cerdedo-Cotobade, where he has been supported by the president of the party at the national level, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, as well as by other popular figures such as Mariano Rajoy, Miguel Tellado, and Cuca Gamarra.
From the Carballeira de San Xusto, the Galician leader has predicted that with the start of the political course, "the time for predictions" will also arrive: "Now the usual ones will start saying whether Pedro Sánchez will call earlier, will call later, or will call coinciding with other elections. Let no one be fooled, he will call when it suits him."
In any case, he believes that, "whenever he calls," he will do so "late": "We already saw the trick of the supposed magician." In his opinion, if the general elections are held before the municipal ones, it will be "much better" because, as he has insisted, "this way, this nightmare will end." "If they are after, we have to be prepared; and if they coincide, double effort," he warned.
Rueda has also outlined the scenario he would like to find in a year. He hopes that by then Sánchez will be on "perpetual vacation," that the PP will have achieved "more mayors," and that Spain will have a president "that it needs and deserves," referring to Feijóo.
"We need a normal government, that is everything contrary to what we have right now," he claimed. In this line, he has demanded an executive that "does not believe that hindering some to favor others achieves anything" and that "does not make distinctions between autonomous communities that it considers first-class and all the others," among which he places Galicia.
Moreover, he has demanded that the next government "believes in Galicia" and "in its identity and its way of being," expressly mentioning the rural, the sea, and the Galician industry. He has also asked for "a government that is loyal, that is honest, that is responsible, that is just, that does not yield to blackmail, and that does not have unconfessable mortgages that tie its hands."
"NOBODY IS GOING TO GIVE GALICIA LESSONS ON EMIGRATING"
In relation to the migration crisis in Ceuta, Rueda has accused the central Executive of "shirking and irresponsibility" in its management and has warned: "No one is going to give Galicia lessons on what it means to emigrate."
He has also expressed his support for the president of Ceuta, Júan Jesús Vivas (PP), of whom he has said that he has defended his territory in these days and that he feels "enormous affection" for Galicia. "Now he does not only represent the citizens of Ceuta, but he represents us all," he has stated.
Next, he reproached the Government for "being more on the side of the aggressors than of the victims" and "having their hands tied." Addressing Pedro Sánchez directly, he concluded: "If you are not capable, if you do not know or do not want [to solve what is happening in Ceuta], there you have another reason to make way for another president."
"OF COURSE THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND WE HAVE TO TRY TO SOLVE THEM"
In the face of this situation, he has contrasted the "other way of doing things" that, according to him, characterizes Galicia. Although he has acknowledged the existence of "problems" in areas such as housing, dependency, health care, or education, he has called to face them: "Of course there are problems, and there will continue to be, and we have to try to solve them."
He has also focused on the "problems" that, as he has indicated, arise with sick leave and has criticized those who claim that it is an "invented problem": "Anyone who has the right to be on leave has a sacred right; but anyone who is on leave without having to be will have their government and Galicia against them because there is a problem and it has to be solved."
In this context, he has urged his party to "be prepared" for the upcoming electoral events and to present themselves "stronger than ever." "We have to solve problems. That is why we are here, to act with determination, with pride, and with courage," he has emphasized.