Sánchez: "Aznar dragged us into the Iraq war because he wanted Bush to invite him for a cigar."

MadridPedro Sánchez carries this matí his "no to war" in Congress. After having secured the support of Junts—and therefore a majority in the chamber—to package of measures to mitigate the effects of the conflict in the Middle EastIn the referendum to be held on Thursday, the Spanish president appeared in parliament to defend Spain's rejection of the offensive launched by Israel and the United States against Iran, focusing his speech on attacking the People's Party (PP). He essentially contrasted his position with that of the PP in 2003 and the war the United States initiated against Iraq. "José María Aznar dragged us into a war to feel important and so that Bush would buy him a cigar," he declared.

According to Sánchez, that war resulted in the worst geopolitical disaster since the Vietnam War, citing the 300,000 deaths and 5 million displaced persons. He also mentioned the terrorist attacks in Europe—in Madrid, Brussels, Barcelona, ​​Paris, and London—and added, "And now Feijóo is suggesting there will be attacks because of our regularization of migrants." after the Spanish government vetoed the tightening which the PP and Junts supported, to review the criminal records of applicants. "Bush has apologized for the illegal war. Aznar has said he doesn't regret it; that's his moral dimension," he concluded, making it clear: "Spain will not be complicit. Not this time while I am Prime Minister."

The leader of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) has proudly touted the stance he took immediately after the outbreak of the war, which he believes has positioned Spain as an "international benchmark in the defense of peace and international law." "It is an honor to be Spanish," he proclaimed, adding that "consistency" is the key to his approach to foreign relations. In contrast, the PP (People's Party) and Vox have criticized him for using the "no to war" banner for self-serving purposes to mask the country's internal problems. "The world is at war and Spain lacks even minimal stability," lamented Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who criticized Sánchez for using the conflict to justify the lack of a budget. "He has no right to bypass parliamentary debate. Are you not a dictator, or are you?" he asked.

The Popular Party leader also criticized Spain for its "rebellious" stance on the international stage, accusing it of "associating Spain's name with the worst people in the world." Along the same lines, the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, reproached Spain for Iranian news agencies showing missiles and thanking Spain for its position. "On the international stage, you only receive thanks from murderers," he declared. "You don't care about war; you take advantage of any disaster to cover up your corruption," he concluded.

Speaking on behalf of Sumar, parliamentary spokesperson Verónica Martínez Barbero responded to the PP and Vox parties, calling them "complicit in barbarity and cruelty," and mocked the PP's "wavering stance" on the war. Gabriel Rufián, spokesperson for ERC, also criticized the Spanish and Catalan right and far right, accusing them of being "lackeys" of Donald Trump.

Claiming the social shield

Sánchez, having issued a comprehensive amendment to the policies of Aznar and the PP, outlined the package of measures approved by his government, which will be ratified this Thursday. He described this social safety net as the "largest" in Europe, consisting of a reduction to 10% in the VAT on electricity, gas, and fuel, as well as a 60% reduction in other taxes related to filling up a car. "It's not fair that some set the world on fire while the rest of us have to swallow the ashes. It's not fair that Spain has to pay for it out of our own pockets," he said. Sánchez emphasized the effects of the "severe contraction of tourism" and "the drastic increase in hydrocarbon prices," as well as the "9% drop in the Ibex 35, which in just one month has lost more than 100 billion euros." Feijóo has warned that, despite Sánchez having "copied" some of the Popular Party's proposals, the emergency plan is still "insufficient" and "late".

The appearance, at his own request and also at the request of the People's Party (PP), comes four weeks after the start of the war and two days after the PP's Juanma Moreno Bonilla called early elections in Andalusia. In this pre-election climate, Sánchez reproached the PP and Vox for having "contributed with their support and silence" to the conflict in the Middle East. "To remain silent in the face of an unjust and illegal war is an act of cowardice and complicity," criticized the Socialist leader, who described the outcome of this first month of conflict as an "absolute disaster."

Pressure from ERC and Sumar a Junts

"If they reject the decree [extending rental contracts], I wish them years of political ostracism," Rufián told Junts, referring to the fact that Carles Puigdemont's party, unlike those containing tax cuts, opposes measures addressing housing. The Republican attacked Junts, accusing them of "lying" in their arguments against extending contracts for two years. The Sumar leader in the lower house also argued that Junts "defends the powerful with complete transparency" and urged Míriam Nogueras's party to "listen to their voters" and "think about people's anguish" before voting in favor. Both Martínez Barbero and Rufián celebrated the fact that Sumar ministers boycotted last Friday's cabinet meeting.