A seminar on the strategic alliance between the EU and Latin America organized by the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) has this Friday turned into a gathering of those who support the negotiations for the investiture of Pedro Sánchez, in the face of voices among the Spanish Socialists (PSOE) who have been reticent over the talks with the Catalan pro-independence parties on the amnesty law. Assembled at PSC headquarters with the first secretary of the PSC, Salvador Illa, were two of the ministers leading the negotiations with Junts and ERC: presidency minister Félix Bolaños and foreign minister José Manuel Albares, the latter responsible for a key issue in the negotiation, the request for official EU status for Catalan. But also present was former Spanish PM José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero, who has signalled his support for Sánchez in the face of criticism from other historical names in the party such as Felipe González and Alfonso Guerra. The former Socialist president of Catalonia, José Montilla, was there too.
Addressing minister Bolaños, whom he described as the "master of ceremonies" of the negotiation, Zapatero showed his support for an investiture that, he affirmed, the Socialists "desire and support". "Why? Because the evolution of our country is extraordinarily favourable under the coalition government, with the leadership of prime minister Sánchez. Every piece of data that comes out about our reality is better," said the former Spanish PM who listed figures such as the increase in employment, the ability to reduce inequalities and the weight of Spain in foreign policy, "an international position more solid than ever".
Loyalty
In his address on the topic of the "Progressive agenda in Europe and Latin America", Zapatero took the opportunity to give warnings directly addressed to the Spanish situation and the PSOE, based on the idea that in moments of crisis like the current one, what is essential is to always have "a clear course as a country, as a party and as a political project". He stressed that this direction "is based on loyalty, on the confidence that a political project transcends people and historical moments" and warned that the Socialist party belongs to the people and is based on "well-anchored and advanced ideas, in favour of the political resolution of conflicts, of the understanding of diversity". "To be a socialist is to embrace the diversity of those who think differently, who have a different skin colour and speak a different language," he replied.
The former PM mocked the request by the leader of the opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, to Sánchez to stop making a fool of himself, and he limited himself to retorting ironically referring to the recognition that the People's Party (PP) leader gave this week to Carles Puigdemont. "When we saw that about Puigdemont, maybe it doesn't deserve any further comment...", he replied.
The former Socialist prime minister of Spain spoke after Salvador Illa, on whom he showered praise - "the political revelation of recent years in Spain, and of course in Catalonia. He will be the most important politician for Catalonia and Spain in the next decade", he affirmed. For his part, the PSC first secretary thanked Zapatero for his work in the government, the "special relationship with Catalonia", his loyalty - "when the wind stops blowing, you have to row. And you have been a rower of honour," he declared.
Fear is the danger
The first secretary of the PSC, who opened the event, explained that we are experiencing a change of era, and that whenever there is change "the sensation of fear appears". He warned that "fear is a very powerful political weapon, but also very dangerous", and that "when it enters the nation, it is doubly dangerous as an agent of mobilization".
Despite not referring at any time to the negotiations with the pro-independence parties or the amnesty law, he did refer directly to the calls of the Spanish right and ultra-right on the breakup of Spain or that "Catalonia is in danger", and he warned against "this feeling which is so powerful and so dangerous". "And when in the hands of the ultra-right is even worse", he affirmed, recalling the situations experienced in Argentina and Poland and which on July 23rd, in the general election, was halted in Spain.
Don't think only of the short term
Faced with this, he appealed for people to put their trust in change, in "institutions and in politics with a capital P, understood as a public service and with an outlook that is generous, not naive, and long-term." "There are those who only think about the election of the day after tomorrow and there are decisions that have to be made, not thinking about the election tomorrow or next month, but thinking about several generations. And we have opportunities. And, that's why it's time for a lot of very serious politics," he warned.
Bolaños did not speak at the event and limited himself to listening to the opening addresses from the front row, but Albares did take the podium, and he began by recalling that he is negotiating the push to make Catalan an official language in Europe.
During their respective speeches, both Zapatero and Albares criticized the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, for the treatment he has given to the secretary general of the United Nations, António Guterres. The former PM asserted that it had been a long time since any country dared show "disrespect" like this towards the UN secretary general. For his part, the foreign minister warned that there are countries that do not see the weakening of the United Nations as a bad thing.
Spain doubles its aid to Palestine
Albares warned that an "extreme situation" is unfolding in the Middle East and stressed the importance of the EU ministerial meeting to be held in Barcelona on November 27th, which will be used to push for a peace conference, along with the resolution on the matter being prepared at the UN. With regard to cooperative aid that Spain is sending to Palestine, he affirmed that Spain has not only increased cooperation by 4 million euros to reach €21 million, but also that it will shortly announce its intention to double this contribution. "Israel has the right to defend itself, but not at any price," he warned.