Juanjo Martin / EPA
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the Leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núnez Feijóo
Party calls for unprecedented means to the Madrid government to solve problems in the regions it has controlled for decades.
The vacancy of fires that reaches the most serious since the 1990s, has been provoking a hard political confrontation between the Government Central and the Popular Party (PP).
Most fires focus on communities governed by the popular for decades: Galicia, Castile and Lion and Extremadura. Only here have caused 4 dead and over 30,000 homeless.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, accompanied by the party’s autonomic presidents, asked unprecedented mobilization of the army, beyond the Military Emergency Unit.
Between AS requirements They are soldiers for evacuation of populations, supply of essential goods, surveillance of perimeters and use of heavy machinery.
The central government interpreted this request as a attempt to cover failures in the regional crisis managementhighlights the.
“All means are on the ground Since August 2, ”said Defense Minister Margarita Robles, accusing feijóo of“ demagogy ” “Make the citizens.”
The Ministry of Interior declared on August 12 the situation of pre-emergency (level 1) of the State Plan General of Civil Protection Emergencies. This decision maintains in the autonomous communities the responsibility Direct management of the fires, and the State is responsible for reinforcing coordination and communication.
The passage to “emergency of national interest”, which would transfer direction to the central government, would only apply to more serious scenarios or affecting several regions simultaneously. So far, neither the executive nor the autonomies has asked for this level of intervention.
Nevertheless, several PP regional leaders intensified the requests for military reinforcement.
Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, president of Castile and LionHe initially stated that the means were “enough,” but days later complained 1000 soldiers, 30 helicopters and 25 Bulldozers.
Na Galicia by Estremadura, Regional governments followed the same line, asking for more air and heavy machinery.
However, the Directorate-General of Civil Protection ensures that all requests are being fulfilled, although some equipment delay coming for logistical reasons.
On the socialist side, the first vice president, María Jesús Montero, accused the PP of “Shake responsibilities” and to blame the central government whenever it faces difficulties.
Pedro Sánchez’s executive recalls that 16% increased funds for fire prevention and 29% those intended for immediate response, while criticizing the regional cuts applied by popular governments in budgets for forest protection.
All this debate comes a few months after the tragedy in, a flood that killed 228 people – and was another natural catastrophe stage of confrontation between PSOE and PP.
