The political storm caused by the “Koldo case” had one of its high points yesterday morning. The former Minister of Transport and former Secretary of Organization of the PSOE, José Luis Ábalosannounced that he was not retiring from politics, that he was not renouncing his record in Congress and, most importantly, he pointed the finger directly at his party and publicly revealed his shame.
Despite everything, the former minister assures that he sleeps peacefully “perhaps from the emotional exhaustion one goes cold” and although sometimes he thinks that “everything is a nightmare”, reality assails him. Because far from fleeing the media spotlight, This Wednesday Ábalos attended the program “Más de Uno”, by Carlos Alsina to clear up some doubts and incidentally stand up to the Chief Executive in Congress. He assures that he “does not have any blanket” to pull on nor is he “a time bomb for Pedro Sánchez”it's more “it has never been for anyone.”
His refusal to resign has caused a stir not only in public opinion but also among the socialist ranks, but he insists that the only thing he seeks is to defend himself from interested information and those that try to sink his reputation. “There are people who do not look at each other and their voices do not tremble,” in reference to the criticism that comes from the Popular Party.
And when asked if his party has offered him any “personal departure”, he makes it clear that after his resignation as minister he could have left because he receives many offers. However, in almost three years as a deputy he has not left: “I do not need a personal outlet. What is in question is something that It disqualifies me not only in politics but in civil life itself.“.
“Reputation is the only thing we have left. If your reputation is damaged, no one wants to be even minimally infected or at risk.“, clarifies Ábalos. In this sense, he narrates his last experience with a bank, which has denied him being a guarantor as a result of all the information that has arisen and that links him to the “Koldo case.” Because, in the end, in his opinion everything It boils down to that… to being pawns, as he highlighted yesterday during his appearance in Congress: “A pawn is a dispensable person. We are all expendable. Sometimes we go to the recycling depot, another to the terminal garbage…, but I don't let them handle me like that“; stated the former minister.
The trigger: the PSOE's public order against Ábalos
Furthermore, he admits that he communicated all this to the current Secretary of Organization, Santos Cerdan, with whom he has not stopped talking at any time since the arrests that left him paralyzed occurred. However, despite these conversations, he reiterates that there was no other solution than the one adopted, “they didn't leave me much of a choice.” But the definitive trigger for what happened yesterday in the Lower House was the “public order” of his party. Ordago that occurred because, according to Ábalos, “I wasn't just agreeing to leave.”
In Ábalos' opinion, the essential thing in this whole matter is the rigorous application of the law, nothing to do with the continuous appeals to ethics. In this sense, he makes it clear that although the law protects the rights of people, he does not want the principle of presumption of innocence to be applied to him, “that's for the accused and I'm not, I'm not”, he asserts. Because the law does not include the concept of “political responsibility”, which is undefined.
And in this matter of political responsibility we must talk about the decision adopted by the PSOE, which yesterday suspended the former Organization Secretary from militancy. “Out of respect for that, I am going to present allegations, because the party rules clearly establish that The resignation of a public office can only be demanded in criminal proceedings and when it is called for oral trial. I am neither accused, nor am I in any phase”, he concluded. What's more, he points out that no one has notified him of the resolution adopted by the party.
Chastening and change of position of Sánchez
Because beyond the procedures and the norm, the former Minister of Transport insists that lThe decision to suspend him is “political and subjective”, which leaves you in the “most absolute insecurity.” At this point, Alsina asks Ábalos directly: What have you done to Pedro Sánchez for him to be treating you like this? The simple answer: “Nothing.” In his opinion, the pressure causes the PSOE to act “impulsively” and in its eagerness to show that it is not like the PP, it goes further and says: “In the case of the PP they go to jail, but if they are socialists, we shot them.” This is “justice populism, but it is not justice”, concludes. Another thing, in his opinion, would be the “chastening.”
He says he doesn't understand the change of position of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez. He assures that after the arrests for the “Koldo case”, Sánchez sees no reason to resign, but that at a certain moment, perhaps due to pressure and the scandal, he changes his mind. All this, without speaking directly with him, because At no time has he maintained contact with the Chief Executive. However, as a good socialist, far from naming names, he limits himself to clarifying that Santos Cerdán had nothing to do with the demand for his resignation, that the decision came from the Federal Executive who, curiously, is under the orders of Sánchez. . Said remains.
The former Minister of Transport takes over certain responsibility for having hired Koldo García Izaguirre, but he defends himself with the argument that “he was a colleague from Navarra who came recommended” and that offered “certain guarantees.” He points out that Koldo was a dedicated, committed person but that does not exempt him from having a “double face.” In the cabinets the essential thing is “trust”, beyond qualificationÁbalos argues to point out that in the end this boils down to a “betrayal of trust.” And he goes further by appearing calm about the possibility of his former advisor telling something, “I behave well with people, although that doesn't matter.” Furthermore, he avoids going into assessing Koldo, with whom he has not had any contact in these last weeks, although he remains “dead” after reading the complaint: “It has broken all my plans. It all seems so clumsy to me…”, he clarifies.