Irene Montero, Spain’s Minister of Equality and second in command of Podemos, expressed her disappointment on Monday regarding the fact that Emiliano García-Page, the PSOE’s candidate for the presidency of the Castilla-La Mancha region, consistently seeks alliances with the conservative party (PP). Montero stated that «with Mr. Page, the right-wing rules even when they don’t govern.» She made this comment before attending an event in Toledo along with José Luis García Gascón, Podemos’ candidate for the presidency of the region, and Manu Pineda, a member of the European Parliament from Podemos.
Montero argued that Castilla-La Mancha «needs» a progressive government in which Podemos «has strength», so that «Mr. Page’s inaction in implementing the abortion law can end and so that all women in the region can practice voluntary termination of their pregnancies, if they so wish, at the nearest hospital to their home, or so that we can apply the housing law to its fullest extent.» She continued by saying that «only if Podemos is strong in the government of Castilla-La Mancha can we implement the abortion law, guarantee the rights of women, guarantee sexual and reproductive rights, or guarantee the right to housing, which are fundamental measures at this time for citizens in Castilla-La Mancha and throughout our country.»
Meanwhile, García Gascón rejected the «unacceptable attacks» that García-Page has made throughout the legislature against Montero and her ministry. «It is absolutely contrary to common sense because the United Nations, in February of this year, praised the advances made by the Ministry of Equality and the minister, especially with regard to the Trans Law and the reform of the Abortion Law,» he said. García Gascón pledged to fulfill feminist laws in the next legislature that the regional president «is not fulfilling,» such as the Abortion Law reform or the Law for a Society Free of Gender Violence, which provides for the implementation of a subject for the prevention of gender-based violence and feminist awareness. García Gascón added that if elected president of Castilla-La Mancha, he will advance the defense of women’s rights in conjunction with the Ministry of Equality.
Regarding last week’s CIS poll, García Gascón said that the fact that they may gain representation in the regional assembly, as the poll suggests, shows that «what is felt on the streets» and that citizens want a progressive change compared to «the setbacks» of García-Page and Maria Dolores de Cospedal’s absolute majorities. «We are very satisfied with this poll, which gives us entry into the Assembly and the ability to be essential for a progressive and transformative government in Castilla-La Mancha, which promotes progress in education, healthcare, housing, rights for women, rights for young people, and the environment,» he concluded.
Lastly, Pineda explained that this event serves to support García Gascón’s candidacy because «it is needed» to «end» the right-wing parties and policies in the region. He stated that the current president of Castilla-La Mancha is «one of the main» opponents of the coalition government. «The right-wing uses him every day because he clearly employs right-wing policies with a fist and a club in hand, destroying the solidarity fund or filling the region with mega-farms,» he concluded.
