Families of ETA Victims Condemn Use of Images for Political Attacks
Families of victims murdered by the terrorist group ETA have expressed outrage over the use of their loved ones' images in political discourse. María Jáuregui, daughter of Juan María Jáuregui, the former civil governor of Gipuzkoa who was killed by ETA, and Josu Elespe, son of Froilán Elespe, Lasarte-Oria’s first socialist deputy mayor and another victim, have both publicly denounced Miguel Tellado, the spokesperson for the Popular Party (PP) in Congress. This condemnation followed an incident where Tellado showcased a poster featuring photos of twelve socialist leaders who lost their lives to ETA during a government oversight session in the Lower House.
Jáuregui took to social media to challenge Tellado, asking him to look her in the eyes and assure her that he would not weaponize her father's memory again. 'Let’s see if once and for all you respect his memory,' she demanded.
In a separate yet equally scathing social media post, Elespe expressed his disgust at Tellado's actions, stating that it was sickening to see him holding a photo of his father in such a manner.
The president of the Collective of Victims of Terrorism (Covite), Consuelo Ordóñez, who is also a victim's family member, called Tellado's display repugnant. She stated that it 'perfectly summarizes what our family members murdered by ETA mean to you' and demanded that the PP politicians refrain from misusing the memories of loved ones, declaring, 'You can’t be more disgusting.'
The strife highlights the ongoing tension in Spanish politics regarding the legacy of ETA, a group that operated from the 1960s until 2011. The families of victims argue that their loved ones' memories should be treated with dignity and not exploited for political purposes. As the discourse continues, these families are determined to advocate for respect and remembrance, emphasizing the human impact behind the political rhetoric.
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