The minister spokesperson, Isabel Rodríguez, has urged the president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, to “study so as not to get confused in the data” in the debate in front of Pedro Sánchez and has suggested that he call the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to “effectively ask him what the position of his party is in Europe” and “not be left alone”.
In an act in the Pontevedra town of Vigo and to questions from the media about the debate on energy saving next Tuesday in the Senate between the President of the Government and the leader of the opposition, the minister has assured that it is a “important” appointment in which there must be a “calm” meeting to talk “of the substance”.
The minister has also responded to Feijóo, who proposes to reduce the VAT on gas from the current 21 percent to 5 percent and has recommended that they “listen carefully to what the priorities are in the world and in Europe”.
“Those who make this type of proposals, which I have also been able to read them this morning, I would tell them to listen carefully to what the priorities are in the world and in Europe. And the priority is that Putin’s blackmail is not effective and that we manage to reduce energy consumption and on that I have not heard any proposal”, said the minister after recalling that the Government of Spain “is making an unprecedented effort”.
“I do not know very well what the Popular Party expects, wants or desires because I have heard them say everything,” he said about the proposals for changes in scenery. However, he has said that he hopes that “this time they prepare it a little better” because in the debate on the state of the nation “the only argument used by the Popular Party was to recover ETA when there were no proposals for this country.”
“I hope that Mr. Feijóo takes advantage of the weekend to study, so as not to be confused by the data, he could even call the president of the (European) Commission, his party colleague Ursula von der Leyen, and ask her what is the position of his party in Europe so as not to be left alone”, he declared.
In terms of energy, the also head of Territorial Policy considers that the position of the Executive in the EU is a reference. “Indeed, we can celebrate that at this time in Spain there is a President of the Government who marks a clear leadership in the European Union at a time of absolute adversity. The proposals of our country are listened to, are heeded and are mitigating the effects of this war “, he continued.
For this reason, he has assured that, “in the face of those who call for alarmism and even pessimism and concern” the Government of Pedro Sánchez “sends a message of tranquility to the Spanish men and women”. “In the face of adversity, there are free passes for transportation, scholarships for their children, reinforcement of services and basic benefits such as the minimum vital income, pensions or the minimum wage (…) We regret that this fight let’s do it alone in the face of adversity without counting on the main opposition party, by the way, as is not happening in other countries around us”, he added.
Rodríguez recalled that Spain is the third country in the EU that is allocating the most public money to combat the consequences of the war “in order to save the economies of families, but also the self-employed and companies”. He also recalled that the Executive has approved “two decrees against the war”, in addition to all the aid that has entered or will soon enter into force. According to the spokeswoman, the Government’s effort, “also in tax matters”, is unprecedented, she has said.
