The precedent of France. Epitome of what is happening in the rest of Europe: a sociological change. A political turnaround. For the leadership of the Popular Party, the rise of far-right forces in Western countries is due – to a large extent – to the management of immigration. Or, rather, to non-management. The ghettos on the outskirts of Paris. The Molenbeek neighborhood in Brussels. In Catalonia, the arrival of people in an illegal situation has boosted Aliança Catalana. The polls are conclusive: the mayor of Ripoll receives support even from voters who do not consider themselves pro-independence supporters. The transfer also comes from the left.
For the majority of the PP leadership, immigration is the great debate of our era. The objective is to avoid an outcome similar to the French Republican Party, devastated by Le Pen’s National Front; or Forza Italia, turned into Giorgia Meloni’s crutch. Alberto Núñez Feijóo wants to maintain the hegemony of the center-right in Spain, threatened by a Vox that is going through a demoscopic spring. For this reason, yesterday he presented an Immigration Plan that has ten proposals. Since the creation of a “Single Authority”, to centralize powers; until strengthening the requirements to obtain Spanish nationality.
“It is about promoting orderly, legal and humane immigration.”
A positioning that crosses both seas. On the one hand, the PP promises a “tough hand” to stop the arrival of people in an irregular situation, whom it links to problems of insecurity and crime; prioritizes Spanish-speaking foreigners with a similar culture, defends putting a stop to “massive regularizations” and proposes limiting the access of irregulars to social aid.
On the other hand, it extols the need to receive immigration linked to employment, with an “outstretched hand” for those who want to contribute, with more agile procedures, through agreements with third countries. The PP, in summary, has come up with a proposal that combines a more forceful position with immigration, without forgetting that, above all, it consists of managing the entry of people. Like that one and like that one. With its intrinsic dignity. «Humanity and law. Solidarity and order. Generosity and effort. “Prosperity and work,” were the maxims expressed by Feijóo. Neither the “goodism of the PSOE” nor the “fanaticism” of Vox. Your offer is precisely between two points. Exactly in the middle.
By the time he arrives at Moncloa, the popular president has designed a “deep reform of immigration policy”, piloted since the last National Congress by his deputy secretary of Sectoral Coordination, Alma Ezcurra. In total, there are ten transversal recipes that set a priority, above all: “Put order where there is disorder.” For weeks now, some of the initiatives that make up the strategy have seen the light of day. Not all.
Yesterday, the most innovative: strengthening the requirements for an immigrant to acquire Spanish nationality. “It is not a gift, it is deserved.” In this regard, Feijóo defended raising the level of linguistic, cultural and constitutional requirements – up to B2 – for people who want to come to live in our country. “Because it is the best path for integration.” Therefore, it will implement “a reinforced test of institutional, legal, cultural and historical knowledge, to guarantee the commitment” of immigrants to “democracy and common values.”
To stop the “call effect” practiced by the current Government, the popular leader establishes a limit: “Social benefits, such as the payment of the Minimum Living Income, will be linked to employment.” The aid, “designed for those who need it most”, cannot “become a permanent way of life for anyone.” Furthermore, the granting of long-term residence will depend on the contribution and not the mere passage of time. “Whoever refuses to integrate cannot have the same privileges as those who support this country with their work”. Another notable aspect, the creation of a “Single Authority” to centralize powers, today distributed among five ministries.
Also the promise to fight against the mafias. And for those who commit crimes. “Immigrants who commit serious crimes will automatically lose their residence and a system of entry quotas will be established by country and sector.” For immigrant minors, the Plan stipulates an “age verification” that must be resolved in a maximum of 72 hours to “avoid fraud.” In that sense, as LA RAZÓN advanced, the idea is to establish an “agile and rigorous asylum system.”
With the immigration plan, Feijóo outlines the path to follow. «In my opinion, there are two ways that irregular immigration continues to be a problem: one is that of the Government, not talking about the issue because they believe that it does not give them votes. Another is Vox, talking about the issue without offering solutions because they believe it gives them votes.he settled.