A controversial plan that will not see the light
Recently, the Baix Llobregat County Council has decided to leave a proposal that had generated intense public debate: prioritizing immigrants, including those in irregular situation, access to public jobs and social aid.
Voices against it prevail
The reaction to the proposal was immediate, with Vox leading the criticism. The deputy Javier Ramírez expressed his opposition forcefully, arguing that the plan was an unacceptable discrimination for Spanish workers, who would be relegated to the background in the competition in public places.
Rights violation?
According to Ramírez, the proposal was not only unfair, but also represented an ‘ideological collision’ that unjustified foreigners, without regard to their abilities or merits.
Reaction of the regional government
In the face of the pressure exerted by Vox and its solidarity union, the regional government, composed by PSC, Junts and ERC, chose to withdraw the plan after a legal report that alerted its potential illegality.
Critics of the proposal
Jordi de la Fuente, Secretary General of the Solidarity Union, added that the document presented by lacking technical rigor, complaining that he had been prepared by activists with ideological interests, such as the former director of SOS Racisme, Alba Cuevas.
Reflections on equality and social justice
Solidarity expressed a great deal of concern about the creation of an ‘ideological megaxiringuit’ that, according to them, could facilitate arbitrary hires without taking into account merit, threatening administrative neutrality and the principles of equality before the law.
Vox’s speech
Ramírez insisted that no immigrant aids in irregular situation cannot be prioritized while there are Spanish families in economic difficulties. This position reflects a significant part of Vox’s speech, which seeks to defend the labor rights of national citizens.
A reflection of current political tensions
The Vox regional councilors, Iván Cánovas and Marc Cívico, celebrated the removal of the plan as a victory, indicating that their pressure has had a significant impact. This situation highlights the tensions between the different Catalan political forces in terms of immigration and access to public resources.
In a context where the loss of purchasing power is palpable, the debate on how to manage equality and social justice policies becomes more relevant than ever, with different voices trying to mark the guidelines on how the resources should be distributed among the population.