Alberto Núñez Feijóo Addresses Migration Crisis and Venezuelan Politics
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of the People's Party (PP), announced on Monday that he will initiate discussions in the Canary Islands and Greece to tackle the pressing issue of migration. His first stop will be a meeting with Víctor Clavijo, the president of the Canary Islands, to clarify the PP's approach after the party blocked a crucial reform of the immigration law in July. This reform, which was agreed upon by the government and the Canary Islands’ Coalition Canaria, was aimed at ensuring that autonomous communities provide support to accommodate foreign minors arriving in Spain.
Following his discussions in the Canary Islands, Feijóo plans to travel to Athens to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriákos Mitsotákis. His objective is to further his immigration policy proposals in light of recent trends showing a significant increase in irregular migrants traveling to Spain via the Canary route, while countries like Greece and Italy have seen a decline. Feijóo questioned why Spain is facing a rise in migration, suggesting that Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni serves as a better model for managing immigration than the current Spanish government headed by Sánchez.
However, the context of this assertion raises eyebrows. Notably, Greece has implemented strict border controls, including the construction of a wall at its border with Turkey, and Italy has passed several laws tightening immigration regulations, effectively making it more challenging for NGOs to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean.
In addition, Feijóo weighed in on the political asylum case of Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González. He stated that if he were to become president, he would have supported granting González political asylum. This statement comes in contrast to the European Union's stance, which has chosen not to recognize Gonzalez officially as the elected president of Venezuela, despite indications of his victory in the recent elections. Feijóo criticized the EU's passive approach and confirmed that he would advocate for the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Nicolás Maduro, the incumbent president of Venezuela.
He lamented the current state of Venezuelan democracy, claiming that Maduro benefits from the present situation where a democratic leader, believed to have won the recent elections, is forced to seek refuge outside the country, while the dictator continues to wield power in Venezuela. Feijóo's political stance underpins his belief in the need for stronger action against authoritarian regimes and a more structured approach to immigration in Spain.
His assertions about former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's mediation efforts also drew attention, with Feijóo suggesting that this has inadvertently aided Maduro by allowing the opposition to weaken. He concluded by underscoring the unfortunate dynamics at play in Venezuela, where the real victor—democracy—is suffering while the current regime continues to thrive.
As the political landscape evolves, Feijóo's immigration proposals and positions on Venezuelan politics promise to play a significant role in shaping public discourse as Spain approaches its next electoral cycle.
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