Enthused by the push towards racist policies which Vox is intensifying throughout the summer, the president of this far-right party in the Region of Murcia, José Ángel Antelo, called on Wednesday during a press conference for a popular consultation regarding the closure of “around 40” youth centres in this autonomous community. The Vox leader in Murcia wants the outcome of this referendum to be implemented “not only in the Region but throughout Spain”.
Antelo noted that this September “the closure of the ‘MENA’ centre in Santa Cruz must be implemented,” a commitment made in the budget agreements with the Popular Party. He reiterated the connection he perceives between migration and crime, a political narrative that does not correspond with reality: Spain has double the number of foreigners compared to 2005 and a lower crime rate.
Asked about Vox’s proposal, the president of the Murcian government, Fernando López Miras, responded in a terse manner at a press conference, his tone revealing exhaustion regarding this issue by stating that “the legal framework provides the answer.”
Moreover, Miras described the national government’s decree on the distribution of migrant minors as “profoundly unjust, unequal, and arbitrary”, announcing that the Community would consider “all possible measures” to prevent its implementation.
“It is not open to opinion”
The Murcian Ministry of Social Policy, Families, and Equality, led by Conchita Ruiz, stated that the Transparency Law allows public consultations as a means to gather citizens’ opinions on specific initiatives by the regional government. However, they pointed out that this instrument cannot be used for a matter “with an unlawful purpose,” such as a consultation concerning a competency, specifically the guardianship of minors in vulnerable situations, “whose exercise by the regional government is non-negotiable and unquestionable and, therefore, not open to opinion.”
Furthermore, the ministry has frequently reiterated that “it does not have any centres dedicated to foreign minors,” noting that in most cases the facilities also house Spanish minors.
While Antelo distanced himself from the future of the 60 minors currently at the Rosa Peñas centre, regional government sources asserted that “this measure requires a process in which progress is being made and is being worked on.” “However, we are talking about minors, and our duty is to protect their privacy and not place them in the spotlight,” they added.
Cancellation of the purchase of housing for minors
Ruiz cancelled the purchase of housing for the accommodation of minors in the Murcian Community on 1 July, coinciding with the announcement of the closure of the Rosa Peñas centre in Santa Cruz, just two hours after Abascal threatened on X to withdraw his support for the Community’s budgets.
The Minister of the Presidency, Spokesperson, External Action, and Emergencies, Marcos Ortuño, announced that same morning in the Regional Assembly the formation of a “technical committee” alongside members of Social Policy to sign agreements with third countries to facilitate the deportation of migrant minors, another of Vox’s demands to support the Murcian Community’s budgets for 2025.
Vox intends to register the initiative starting from 8 September, the date on which the extraordinary period in the Regional Assembly concludes.
