This Saturday, when they were chasing a drug boat almost 150 kilometers off the coast of Huelva, it altered the situation, but did not paralyze it. And it was far from promoting a political truce. In the middle of a day of mourning in Andalusia, decreed by the autonomous government of Juan Manuel Moreno, it was the head of his party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who from Ceuta harshly charged against the central Executive, specifically against the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, whom he accused of “incompetence” and for whom he demanded the “retirement” from his position.
On Friday, after learning of the deaths of the civil guards Jerónimo Giménez and Germán Pérez, the PP suspended its campaign and the Board declared a day of mourning, this Saturday. Faced with the decision of Moreno’s candidacy, each party chose to act in one way. The PSOE also suspended the campaign on Friday and Saturday, including a rally by Pedro Sánchez that moves to this Sunday in La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz). Por Andalucía and Adelante Andalucía annulled some acts, but maintained others. And Vox maintained its plans, emphasizing that its duty was to remain the same, and criticized the decision to suspend its plans adopted by others.
So the campaign came to this Saturday destined to be marked by the , attended by more than a hundred civil guards, the director of the armed institute, Mercedes González, and a wide representation of political leaders, among whom were Juan Manuel Moreno, the Secretary of State for Security, Aina Calvo, the delegate of the central government in Andalusia, Pedro Fernández, and the socialist candidate in the elections, María Jesús Montero. There the popular leader spoke before the media.
“This once again reminds us of the situation we experienced two years ago in Barbate,” he stated, recalling the death of two civil guards in February 2024 on the coast of the Cadiz town after being killed, an event that raised a wave of indignation and that even then led the PP to request the resignation or dismissal of Marlaska. In the case of Huelva, deaths have also occurred when agents were fighting drug trafficking, but due to an accidental collision of two Civil Guard vessels, not due to an attack.
There was no direct criticism of the Government from the Andalusian president from Huelva. “Today it is time to grieve, give love and support to the family, the friends of the family, the entire Civil Guard and the National Police. […]. There will be time to continue analyzing the situation they have and the material means or human and material resources that our State Security Forces and Corps need to combat this terrible scourge,” he declared.
Feijóo’s script was different, who on a visit to Ceuta did express himself with extreme forcefulness about Marlaska, eliciting applause from those in attendance: “His incompetence has been crying out for his retirement for a long time.” The popular leader, who did not clarify whether he was asking for dismissal or resignation, something that Marlaska has already requested on multiple occasions, accused the Government of not “taking seriously” the “protection” of the agents who combat drug trafficking. “That’s it!” he exclaimed. Feijóo also remembered Barbate: “It is cruel and unfair that what happened two years ago happens again.”
Silence of Montero
The Montero campaign, which did not make statements in Huelva, did not break its silence to respond to Feijóo either. “We are in a day of mourning,” alleged a spokesperson for the former minister’s team. That, he added, affects “acts” and also “statements.” In Madrid, at a press conference with the Minister of Health, Mónica García (Más Madrid), on the occasion of the arrival in the Canary Islands of the cruise ship related to a hantavirus outbreak, Marlaska stated that since she came to the Government in 2018, “more means” have been put in place than “ever” to combat drug trafficking. In eight years, he quantified, 45,000 anti-drug operations have been carried out with more than 30,000 detainees. “We are a reference in international cooperation and in the fight against criminal organizations,” emphasized the head of the Interior.
Vox was the only party that did not move a comma from its agenda. What he did was redirect his attention towards the Huelva accident, which became the star issue of the . “Captain Jerónimo Jiménez and civil guard Germán Pérez, present!, present in our hearts, present in this square and present in the policies that we are going to defend,” Abascal began, in a military outburst. The harshest was its candidate in Andalusia, Manuel Gavira, who blamed the PP and the PSOE—along with the drug traffickers themselves—for the death of the two uniformed men. After stating that “those who “bind the Civil Guard” are “also” guilty,” Gavira stated that the police forces could end drug trafficking “in one afternoon.” “But neither those of the PSOE of the Government nor those of the PP are capable, they do not want to,” he stated.
Adelante Andalucía had planned to hold a rally at 12:00 p.m. in Malaga, but the event was canceled due to rain. However, its candidate, José Ignacio García, spoke to the attendees and the media some words of affection for the two deceased “workers in the fight against drug trafficking.” He also recalled the Barbate tragedy and added: “This cannot happen again.” In his speech, he attacked Moreno, whom he accused of wanting to convey the idea that “this campaign is over.” Antonio Maíllo, candidate for Por Andalucía, is scheduled to hold an event this afternoon in Jaén.
Final stretch
The campaign enters its final stretch, with the polls just one week away, with all polls predicting a comfortable victory for Juan Manuel Moreno, who could even revalidate the absolute majority. Or not revalidate it, a possibility that the polls also contemplate. The last pre-election Sunday comes marked by the death of the two civil guards, and with the highest representative of the PP putting the Government in the spotlight.
It remains to be seen if this tragedy remains at the top of the agenda or other issues make way for it. The spotlight shifts this Sunday to Sánchez’s rally in La Línea. On Monday the second debate will be held between the candidates of the PP, the PSOE, Vox, Por Andalucía and Adelante Andalucía. This Saturday, Correos reported that it has received 178,540 early voting requests for May 17, 1.11% more than for the elections of .
