The spokesperson for the regional government has labelled the Vox demonstration outside the children’s centre in the Murcian district as a ‘farce and spectacle’, describing it as ‘irresponsible and indecent to politicise the situation at their gates.’
The Civil Guard intervenes at the Santa Cruz Children’s Centre (Murcia) to prevent an illegal gathering.
The spokesperson for the Murcian government, Marcos Ortuño, has noted that the minors accommodated at the children’s centre in the Murcian district of Santa Cruz will be relocated, but ‘they will not disappear’, as the Region is ‘obligated’ to provide for them. ‘They will be moved to other resources, whether they be alternative children’s accommodation or foster homes,’ he confirmed.
The future of the Rosa Peñas children’s centre hangs in the balance, as the budget agreement signed by the PP and Vox includes the closure of these facilities: ‘The Popular Party commits to closing the Santa Cruz Children’s Centre and repurposing it for social and health services before the start of the 2025/2026 school year,’ the document states.
Last Wednesday, access to the children’s centre was blocked by a significant deployment of the Civil Guard, as regional leaders of Vox had encouraged their supporters to attend this event, officially called a press conference, which had been prohibited by the Government Delegation on the evening of Tuesday.
Ortuño characterised the gathering as a ‘farce and spectacle’ and condemned the act of ‘politicising in front of a children’s centre’ as ‘irresponsible and indecent’. He reminded the public that ‘we are not discussing merchandise or an Amazon package, and we must preserve the dignity and privacy of these minors.’
Threat from Abascal
The Minister of Social Policy, Conchita Ruiz, assured that the commitment to close the centre will be fulfilled, but has yet to clarify the fate of the 60 minors residing in these facilities following its closure. On 1 July, the government cancelled the purchase of housing for accommodating minors in the Murcian Community, coinciding with the announcement of the closure of the Rosa Peñas centre in Santa Cruz, just two hours after Abascal threatened via X to withdraw his support for the region’s budget.
Ortuño announced last week in the Regional Assembly the formation of a ‘technical committee’ alongside members of Social Policy to establish agreements with third countries to facilitate the deportation of migrant minors, another demand from Vox in return for their support for the 2025 regional budget.
