Robles Responds in Catalan to Junts Criticism
During Wednesday's government control session in Congress, Defence Minister Margarita Robles responded in Catalan to Junts deputy Isidre Gavín, stating she has "as much right" as he does to feel Catalan. Robles, who has lived and worked almost her entire life in Catalonia, invoked former Generalitat president Jordi Pujol's definition of Catalan identity, "everyone who lives and works in Catalonia", to counter Gavín's remarks questioning her belonging. "I have lived and worked practically my entire life in Catalonia, therefore, I have the right to feel as Catalan as you," Robles said, concluding in Catalan: "Aquesta és la Catalunya que nosaltres volem" (This is the Catalonia we want).
Clash Over Ceuta and Political Responsibility
The exchange followed Gavín's criticism of Robles for failing to deploy military support to Ceuta ahead of a major influx of immigrants in July, despite prior intelligence. He contrasted the government's response with actions taken during the 2017 independence referendum under the previous PP government, when 20,000 police officers and three naval vessels were sent to Catalonia. "You don't take political responsibility, but you've made an international fool of yourselves and still don't know how to manage the immigrants," Gavín said. He questioned why the government had not chartered a cruise ship to house and process unaccompanied immigrant minors in Ceuta, where some are living in beachside shacks.
"Now you don't even know where to put the tents so that the immigrants in Ceuta don't have to live in shacks on the beaches,"
Gavín added. Robles did not address the operational criticisms directly, instead focusing on the personal and linguistic dimensions of the debate, defending a pluralistic vision of Catalan identity.
Reported by lavanguardia.com, La Vanguardia Catalonia.
