Carmen Fúnez, the ‘number one’ candidate of the Popular Party for the Congress of Deputies in the province of Ciudad Real, has outlined the main problems and opportunities of her region in an interview with Europa Press. She believes that normalizing coexistence after a socialist government is the most urgent premise for continued progress. Fúnez argues that the problems of her province should not be analyzed in isolation, but rather in the context of the country as a whole. By addressing global issues, specific concerns of the people of Ciudad Real can be addressed.
According to Fúnez, the main problem that needs to be addressed to begin solving the specific issues of the people of Ciudad Real is «the coexistence of everyone.» She believes that Pedro Sánchez, during his five years as the head of the Spanish government, has focused too much on a minority of independentists, individuals from Esquerra Republicana de Cataluña, those involved in the 1 October incident, the people of Bildu, and ETA prisoners who have been relocated to Navarra and the Basque Country. Fúnez argues that Sánchez has put this minority at the center of Spanish politics, neglecting the concerns of the majority. If the Popular Party comes to power, their first priority will be to «rebuild coexistence in order to focus on what is important.»
Fúnez emphasizes that if the PSOE continues to govern, it will significantly benefit these aforementioned groups. The Popular Party wants to reach out to social democratic voters and highlight the common ground between their moderate left and the PP. Fúnez claims that Sánchez will always prioritize agreements with Esquerra and Bildu, neglecting the important issues, such as Dependence.
The second agenda, after rebuilding coexistence, will be job creation. Fúnez believes that this is essential for preventing population aging in the province. She wants to create the best conditions for young people in Ciudad Real to stay and develop their life projects.
Fúnez also highlights the opportunities in Ciudad Real, particularly in the agri-food sector and its related industries. She proposes making this sector more competitive by modernizing industries and not blaming farmers for environmental damage. Additionally, she sees potential for digital industries and job creation in this field.
The PPs campaign in Ciudad Real aims to secure the third seat out of the five seats up for grabs in the elections. Fúnez emphasizes that their campaign is focused on direct contact with the residents of the province.
Regarding the PP’s agreements with Vox, Fúnez emphasizes that these agreements have been made on a programmatic basis and that there will be no steps backward on issues such as gender-based violence and equality, as these are fundamental values of the PP.
Fúnez recalls the offer made by the PP to Pedro Sánchez to let the party with the most votes govern after the July 23 elections. She explains that this offer was made three months before the election and was rejected by the PSOE. As a result, the PP exercised its right to form alliances despite not being the most voted party in certain autonomous communities and municipalities. Fúnez asserts that the PP will win the elections.
Regardless of the outcome, Fúnez hopes that the next legislature will be characterized by significant agreements between the PP and the PSOE to end blocks and blockades. She suggests agreements in areas such as healthcare, water management, regional financing, and electoral reform.
