Feijóo emphasizes to Sanchez the necessity of upholding the contract with Israel, denouncing him for revoking it due to a "personal issue."
3 min. Feijóo Slams Sanchez Over Israel Bullet Contract Cancellation
The PP's big boss, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has taken aim at the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, for scrapping the ammo purchase deal signed with Israel, stating it undermines Spain's international commitments. Feijóo slammed Sánchez for cancelling the €6.6 million contract, dubbing it as petty and politically unstable.
According to Feijóo, "It's a no-brainer that a state upholds its contracts, more so with another democratic state like Spain and Israel." He jabbed at the coalition partners for favoring deals with non-democratic governments over Israel. Recently, Sumar was fiercely critical of the Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, for authorizing a weapons purchase from a "genocidal regime." IU even threatened coalition breakdown over the issue.
Moncloa Rectifies, Drops Israel Bullet Contract
Feijóo labeled the contract cancellation as typical of "backward countries," not Europe. "It's crystal clear that the Government and Marlaska itself lied about the contract," Feijóo said, accusing the Executive of leading everyone astray. "We'll foot the tab for the Government's mess," he added.
In response to questions about the cancellation cost, Feijóo wondered aloud about the opportunities lost for funding affordable housing. Sánchez had presented a housing industrialization PERTE on the same day.
PP Raps Government's Chaotic Policy
Feijóo called out the Government's policy chaos and hinted that the Israel contract controversy was a smokescreen to steer the spotlight away from the defense investment plan worth €10.471 million. "Don't count on the PP if this is a trick to avoid talking about the defense plan," he warned.
Feijóo noted that most Spaniards reject these squabbles, attributing them to self-serving ministers seeking their salaries. He also criticized the Government for boosting defense spending without having a clear scope, content, or budget, and without consulting Congress.
Meanwhile, Vox demanded answers over the contract termination, likening Sánchez to someone who'd rather buy everything from China, supposedly a champion of human rights and Western defense.
Government Partners Seek Clarity
The usual coalition allies of the Government have questioned the Executive about the Israel military equipment deal. ERC, Bildu, and BNG have asked for an urgent appearance of Minister Marlaska in Congress to discuss the matter. They accused the Government of breaking promises to end transactions of military materials against Palestinian aggression and demanded that responsibilities for these actions be clarified.
Meanwhile, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) proposed 18 defense-related measures to tighten Spanish arms exports control and revoke the Council of Ministers' classified minutes agreement. Podemos, on the other hand, predicted the Government's contract cancelation move as an attempt to pacify coalition partners, PSOE and Sumar, stating the relationship would continue in secret[1].
[1] - https://www.abc.es/economia/analisis/lee/alberto-nunez-feijoo-denuncia-presupuesto-del-gobierno-a-su-presidente-de-jornada-202204212021.html
- The cancellation of the ammunition purchase deal with Israel, as stated by Feijóo, is evidently a breach of Spain's international commitments, according to the PP's big boss, Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
- Feijóo's criticism of the Government for cancelling the €6.6 million contract extends to claims of political instability and favoritism towards non-democratic governments.
- The rectification of the contract cancellation by Moncloa, as mentioned in the news, has been labeled as typical of "backward countries" by Feijóo, indicating a lack of European standards.
- The PP has also pointed out the Government's chaotic policy, suggesting that the Israel contract controversy could be a smokescreen to avoid discussing a defense investment plan worth €10.471 million.
- The General News is filled with political squabbles, with parties like Vox questioning the Government's dealings and calling out Sánchez for supposedly preferring purchases from China over Israel, while Podemos predicts the Government's actions as an attempt to pacify coalition partners.
