Mr. RUFIÁN ROMERO:
Well. First of all, Mr. Abascal, am I all right? (He buttons his suit jacket --
Mr. Abascal Conde makes an affirmative gesture). Yes? Is that okay with you? I
would like to mention that Marcelino Camacho wore a sweater and Rodrigo Rato
wore a tie. Tejero also wore a tie when he came here, so it doesn't depend on
what you wear (Applause and laughter). I congratulate you on your speech;
everyone applauded you except
[Ramón] Tamames. (Laughs)
When
Silvio Berlusconi left the courtroom the first
time, he was convicted of something, some time ago, a journalist asked him:
"Does it change anything?" "Does it affect you in any way what has happened?"
--A corruption conviction, eh -- And Silvio Berlusconi --first conviction --
responded with a sentence as true as it is terrible: "No, why? The truth does
not change anything." True and terrible: No because the truth does not change
anything.
Look, what do you think all those who come back from work are going to see on TV
today? What do you think all those who go to work are going to hear and see
tomorrow on the radio or TV? What do you think? The truth? (Rumors). Fifty-two
ultras applauding everything without knowing very well why? A leader who knows
full well that he cannot endure more than three repetitions in a row? A
well--read gentleman, but also eager to be on TV?
This is the truth. Yes, many people will see and hear this because it is the
truth, but they will be told something else. They will see something else. They
are going to see a venerable gentleman very concerned about the autocratic drift
of a government that governs, makes pacts, and negotiates with the enemies of
Spain. That is what many people will see and hear. Because, ladies and
gentlemen, the noise that surrounded and exhaled
VOX a long time ago is no longer just that --
it is no longer just noise; it is no longer just destruction; it is something
else.
If we are able to listen carefully, a melody is
heard and a whisper is heard for whoever wants to hear it, and I can assure you
that there are a lot of people willing to listen to it, and it is: We are not
fascists; we are patriots. We are not angry fascists; we are concerned patriots.
And this is not only said by VOX, but also by a journalist with sources very
close to Zarzuela ---- like Zarzalejos, by Mario Vaquerizo in show business
programs, by Trevijano and Marchena with their sentences, by Abascal in El
Hormiguero, and now by the right hand -- never better said -- of Carrillo. That
is the melody, ladies and gentlemen. That is the music. And we can be here
making a fuss and a ruckus to all these people until tomorrow -- it doesn't
matter. It doesn't matter because they can win; because that's the tune you
hear; that's the whisper you hear.
Ladies and gentlemen, do you know people, many people, good people --neighbors,
friends, relatives -- working-class people -- neighbors, friends, relatives --
good people, who are much more worried, much more pissed off, because of what, I
do not know, I receive for my public office, because as everybody knows I
receive an extraordinary salary and some of you receive your salary in sacks of
rice, in sacks of rice? Do you know working -- class people, good people, who
are much angrier about what, I don't know, I get in wages than about a king
running away after stealing for 40 years? Yes, or no? Do you know them?
Several deputies: No!
I do. (Applause). The question is why. Do you know
people, good people --neighbors, friends, relatives, working-class people -- who
hate parties that vote in favor of the minimum interprofessional wage and who
love and vote for parties that vote against raising the minimum
interprofessional wage, that receiving the minimum interprofessional wage? Do
you know them? I do. The question is why. I have already mentioned this to you a
few times. Why are there so many mice listening to and voting for cats? Why? The
answer is terrible, but it is true: because there are a lot of people willing to
vote against their interests thinking that they vote in favor of their
principles. I repeat, there are a lot of people willing to vote against their
interests thinking that they are voting in favor of their principles.
But what is this principle? What is it? The most powerful that can exist in
politics: is the homeland. Because who doesn't want to be part of a country?
Who? Who doesn't want to be part of a collective? Who? But what is a homeland,
what is a homeland? A homeland is an army? Is a homeland a soccer team, is it an
anthem, is it a king? What is it? It can be everything. For Mr. Tamames and VOX
-- and the Popular Party, for Ciudadanos, and even for some people in the
PSOE [Spanish Socialist Workers' Party] -- a
homeland is a flag. OK, but what about the people who carry that flag? What
about the people who carry the flags of these people? Because that is what
matters, because perhaps a homeland is neither an anthem, nor an army, nor a
king, nor a soccer team, nor a flag; perhaps the homeland is its people, perhaps
the homeland is the other and, above all, how those people live and how those
other lives.
So, let's see what VOX, the champions of patriotism, have done for those people.
In Spain, there is 30% child poverty. In Spain, there are thirteen million poor
people. In Spain, there are almost three million unemployed. In Spain, there are
still one hundred evictions on average per day, and in Spain, almost everything
you eat has gone up by 30%. (Rumors). Going to a private school does not make
you more educated. It is clear.
The PRESIDENT: Silence, please.
Mr. RUFIÁN ROMERO: That is what Spain is
today. So, let's see what VOX voted for the people who carry the flag because
the homeland is not only going to be the flag, but also the people who carry
that flag, right? VOX voted against all the aids that literally saved the lives
of millions of people during the worst of the pandemic, of all of them. VOX has
never voted in favor of raising contributory and non-contributory pensions. VOX
has voted against a children's law to protect those who most need to be
protected in a country with almost 30% child poverty. VOX voted against a
university coexistence law in favor of students. VOX has never voted in favor of
any investment in science. VOX has never voted in favor of any measure against
electric oligopolies such as, for example, electric self-consumption. VOX has
always voted against any initiative in favor of the environment. VOX has not
voted in favor of allowing domestic workers, if they want, to have access to
unemployment. VOX has voted against selling at a loss, and they say they are the
ones from the countryside. VOX has voted against the minimum living income and
VOX has never voted in favor of raising the minimum wage. These are the
concerned patriots (Applause). These are the concerned patriots.
What does VOX tell you? Well, VOX tells you that if you are hungry, Spain; if
you don't have a house, Spain; if you don't have a job, Spain; if you have a
house but you can't afford it, Spain; if you have a job but you earn very
little, Spain: Spain, Spain, Spain.1
A Member of Parliament: Very good!
Mr. RUFIÁN ROMERO: That is what VOX tells
you, and there are some who applaud because they do not understand the movie
(Laughter, Applause). VOX, worker, worker, tells you that the homeland is your
new God, that the homeland is your new God, and that you have to pray to it,
that you have to pray to a flag while they close a hospital.
Mr. Tamames, good afternoon, how are you? This is taking a long time, eh?
(Rumors). You have come today to sell us your book, literally. I was very amused
when you said that you do not know who has stolen your speech, the leaked
speech; be careful that they have not used a
Pegasus, I tell you from experience.
I have listened to you carefully and I have mostly questions for you. But first
a preliminary one. You constantly talk about the past, constantly, but the past
was not always better -- my grandfather told me that, I am not saying it.
Sacralizing the past is dangerous. For example, forty years ago, do you know
what happened? Well, forty years ago Juan Carlos I was very friendly and loved
his wife very much; there were even those who said that he saved people when he
rode his motorcycle. Forty years ago, John Paul II was a very nice pope of a
Church that had zero cases of pederasty. Forty years ago, Arevalo made jokes
about homosexuals, blacks, and the mistreatment of women, and nothing happened
here. No, it is not true that forty years ago we were better off, forty years
ago there were simply more lies and more privileges. Do you know what was
happening forty years ago? That we were all forty years younger. That is true.
It is the only truth. You have spoken here today of a time that did not exist.
You have spoken here today of a time that did not exist, and you have done so
hand in hand with the children and grandchildren of those who imprisoned you.
But, Mr. Tamames, because I know the trap, that is not reconciliation, that is
surrender, that is surrender.
You have dedicated a large part of your speech to criticizing this Government
and the parties that negotiated with it for -- and I quote -- betraying the
spirit of the Transition. Is this correct? I understand that it is. It seems
like that's basically why you're here. You have repeatedly declared -- you have
done so today -- as a constitutionalist, as an anti-- Francoist -- in fact, you
have said that you joined the Communist Party not so much as a communist, but as
an anti-Francoist -- and I repeat, as a son of the Constitution, and you harshly
criticize the Government's incoherence and the Government's bad company. Is that
correct? I understand that it is.
But, Mr. Tamames, do you know for which party you are standing here today as
President of the Government? Because that is what this is all about, eh? Do you
know who signed your motion of censure? Do you know? (A lady deputy: he knows
perfectly well). Yes, you know, but I am going to tell you again. It is public
and notorious information. One of the signatories of his motion of censure is
Juan José Aizcorbe, VOX deputy for Barcelona. In 1982 he was a militant in
Fuerza Nueva, in 1988 in
Juntas Españolas, and in 1989 in
Frente Nacional, all of them parties that
called for a dictatorship through a new coup d'état. Signer of your motion of
censure, current deputy. Mr. Tamames, what does this have to do with
anti-Francoism, constitutionalism, and the spirit of the Transition?
Another one, Juan Carlos Segura, also a VOX deputy for Barcelona. In 1980 he was
a militant in the National Front, in 1981 he was arrested -- I repeat, arrested
-- for throwing a Molotov at a UCD headquarters -- you have to be a beast -- and
in 1982 for burning a figure of the king, in 1982. Deputy, signer of your motion
of censure. (Voices). Mr. Tamames, what does this have to do with
anti-Francoism, constitutionalism, and the spirit of the Transition? (Voices).
The PRESIDENT: I ask for silence, please.
Mr. RUFIÁN ROMERO:
Another one, Jordi de la Fuente, the current secretary of the organization of
VOX in Barcelona. He was a member of a Nazi party, such as Movimiento Social
Republicano, and in 2009 he was arrested for vandalism against a synagogue and
against a juvenile center. Secretary of VOX in Barcelona. Mr. Tamames, what does
this have to do with anti--Francoism, constitutionalism, and the spirit of the
Transition?
Another one, is Jorge Cutillas, current deputy of VOX in the Assembly of Madrid.
He was a member of Patria y Libertad and was arrested for stoning a bus with
Basque children in Madrid. What a bad thing! What does this have to do with
anti-Francoism, constitutionalism, and the spirit of the Transition, Mr.
Tamames?
And the last one, because we could go on until tomorrow, I can assure you -- it
is public and notorious information-- the champion, Javier Ortega-Smith.
(Rumors). He was a member of the Falange in 1988 and published an article in
which he called for the return of a single-party and single-union regime. Mr.
Tamames, what does this have to do with anti-Francoism, constitutionalism, and
the spirit of the Transition?
(Applause).
Mr. Tamames, you talk about waste; in fact, your VOX colleagues also talk about
government waste. It seems fine to me to talk about waste, but what do you
think, for example -- because as you talk about austerity...-- of VOX donating 4
million euros to a foundation chaired by Mr. Abascal? I do not say so myself, it
is said by its former general secretary, Macarena Olona. What is your opinion?
It seems to me that it is a waste; at the very least, ask why VOX donates 4
million euros to a foundation, precisely, chaired by Mr. Santiago Abascal. Since
we are talking about waste, let's talk about it. Mr. Abascal is telling him
things. I have the feeling that Mr. Tamames does not understand what he is
telling him. (Rumors).
You also speak of national coexistence. Mr. Tamames, how does it help national
coexistence -- and I ask you sincerely -- to send the Civil Guard and the
National Police -- I tell you objectively, as an image -- to beat people at a
polling station, in Catalonia, on October 1, 2017? How does it help national
coexistence? Did it help to beat people in a polling station? Has there been
anyone in Catalonia who has stopped being pro-independence? No. (Applause).
Mr. Tamames, you talk about our language, about speaking exclusively in Spanish.
You have accused the
Generalitat -- according to you, Generalitat;
surely it is difficult for you to say Generalitat, I understand it -- of
persecuting Castilian. Look, I am forty--one years old, I was born in Santa
Coloma de Gramanet, everybody knows it, and in Santa Coloma de Gramanet
linguistic immersion started; and linguistic immersion, as you know, means that
children are schooled in Catalan because it is the language of the place where
they are schooled, and it is a minority language and it is convenient to promote
it because Castilian is spoken by between six hundred and seven hundred million
people all over the planet. That's it. Do you think it is difficult for me to
speak Castilian? (Several deputies: Yes). Oh, yes? Ah, it's hard for me. That's
a new one. (Rumors) Is it hard for me?
The PRESIDENT: Silence, please.
Mr. RUFIÁN ROMERO: It is absurd that you say
that the Generalitat or Generalidad persecutes the Castilian language; that is,
I was born in the cradle of linguistic immersion! But it is that article 3 of
your sacrosanct, of your sacred Constitution, that you are going to sleep with
it, says that there are more official languages in this country apart from
Spanish, apart from Castilian, Catalan, Basque, and Galician. Their sacrosanct
Constitution says so. A country that does not recognize, that vilifies its
linguistic and cultural diversity, simply does not deserve it; does not deserve
it. (Applause).
Mr. Tamames, you talk about democratic memory, and you say that in the war there
were neither good nor bad guys; and you end your speech reading Machado. I am
convinced that Machado would not have found what he said about neither good nor
bad funny at all, eh? (Applause). But, well, it got VOX to applaud him. The
question is, do you think it is right that a murderer, such as Queipo de Llano,
was in a basilica until the day before yesterday and that a universal poet, such
as Lorca, is still today in a grave and nothing happens here? Do you think this
is neither good nor bad? Do you think it is right? (Applause).
What I do find curious, above all, is that everything is a coup d'état except
what is a coup d'état. Reforming the Penal Code is a coup d'état; an investiture
of the Socialist Party with Unidas Podemos is a coup d'état; renewing the
Constitutional Court is a coup d'état; approving the budgets is a coup d'état; a
referendum in Catalonia is a coup d'état; but the 36 is a grandparents' fight!
(Laughter). Feijóo says it; you do not say it, you say something else. Mr.
Feijóo says it is a grandparents' fight. Everything is a coup d'état, except a
coup d'état. It is curious.
Mr. Tamames, you talk about the overrepresentation of separatist parties, I
understand your point of view, and you talk about a new election law. You have
been very insistent on this point. You have a reputation for being rigorous; the
data belies that. Do you know how many votes the PSOE needed for each seat in
the last elections? 56,601. The PP? 56,708. The PNV? 63,167. And Esquerra
Republicana? 67,167. Mr. Tamames, these are lentils, who is overrepresented
here? Why do they keep saying about the electoral law? It is absurd (Applause).
You literally say, Mr. Tamames, that Spain has an exemplary penal system, a
model for the world. Mr. Tamames, then, why have judges in Scotland, Germany,
Switzerland, or Belgium not yet extradited dangerous criminals, as you say, such
as Carles Puigdemont or Marta Rovira? Why? If the Spanish penal system is ideal,
if it is incredible, why don't European judges extradite them if they are so
dangerous? I am telling you. Do you know what these judges say in their
sentences? That they would not have -- and this is literal -- a fair trial. It
is a disgrace to the democracy of this country. (Applause).
Mr. Tamames, you talk about SMEs and propose a simple solution for them: that
they cease to exist. He gives the example of Juan Roig, Amancio Ortega, or
people who raise the shopping basket beyond inflation and who always pay badly.
At least he did not use Ferrovial as an example. You have also talked about
Gibraltar at some point. I only recommend you one thing, do not send Ortega
Smith to negotiate that. (Laughter, Applause). Mr. Tamames, a summary of your
speech. You have gone from -- I dare say -- I prefer a red Spain to a broken
Spain, to I prefer a fascist Spain to a broken Spain, and that is a shame
because you can grow old as Maruja Torres or as yourself. (Applause).
I end with a comment to the Government. A motion of censure is made to censure a
government, and many of us also think that this government has reason to be
censured. That's what I commented earlier about there are a lot of people who
listen to these people with some attention and if they get the tune, it's
because of their neglect. I don't have time, but I would like to talk about
mortgages, I would like to talk about prices. You, ladies, and gentlemen of the
Government will not be defeated by a motion; you, ladies, and gentlemen of the
Government, will be defeated by inflation. It is not acceptable that a minister
of this government when people cannot buy food in a supermarket, tells them:
Well, go to the one across the street. Maybe you don't understand the difference
between an unfair dismissal benefit of 33 or 45 days, maybe you don't; it would
be important for you to understand it, but maybe you don't. (Applause).
Understand that solutions must be given to the people. In this regard, a
democracy cannot be based on the current account of the people, a democracy must
be based on the current things that affect the people. Start, ladies and
gentlemen of the Government, to think about the people you are disappointing and
not so much about the managers of the powers that be who are pressuring you.
Nothing more and thank you very much (Applause from the members of the
Republican Parliamentary Group, standing up).
Original Text Source: https://www.congreso.es/en/busqueda--de--intervenciones
Original Audio Source:
https://app.congreso.es/AudiovisualCongreso/audiovisualdetalledisponible?codOrgano=400&codSesion=246&idLegislaturaElegida=14&fechaSesion=21/03/2023
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